
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chai^.. L .5topyVight No. 



Melt 



-M4 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Ik 



BIRDS 



OF THE UNITED STATES 



EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 



A MANUAL FOB THE IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES 
IN HAND OB IN THE BUSH 



By AUSTIN C. APGAR 

AUTHOR OF "TREES OF THE NORTHERN UNJTED STATES," ETC. 



3HK 




NEW YORK-:- CINCINNATI-:. CHICAGO 

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY 






1898, TW 



• 



6625 



Copyright, 1898, by 
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY. 



apgar's birds. 
W. P. I 







PREFACE 



Much interest and enjoyment may be added to our lives 
by familiarity with, those most beautiful, sprightly, and musi- 
cal forms of life, — the birds. Yet few of us know or even 
see more than a very small part of the feathered songsters 
of our woods, fields, and waysides. 

The object of this book is to encourage the study of birds 
by rendering it a pleasant and easy task. The introductory 
chapters explain briefly the meaning of technical terms used 
by ornithologists. These chapters are designed chiefly for 
reference, a much smaller vocabulary being employed in the 
body of the book. 

The descriptions have been prepared with great care, and 
present several advantages over those in other books: 

(1) They are short, being limited to points essential to 
the identification of the species. 

(2) They consist generally of only two connected sen- 
tences, which can readily be recalled while looking at a 
bird. They are thus especially adapted for field use. 

(3) Sufficient reference is made to the changes due to sex, 
age, and season, without describing in any particular species 
all the phases found in nature. 



4 PREFA CE 

(4) They are adapted for the use of beginners in the study 
of birds, not for reference by ornithologists, who have access 
to more comprehensive works. 

Keys, if properly arranged, furnish the easiest and most 
practicable method of enabling beginners to identify species. 
The Keys in this book were originally prepared as aids in 
discovering the names of birds by examination of their 
external features only. They were thus printed, and used 
by over a thousand students under the direct supervision 
of the author. Every difficulty encountered by the pupils 
suggested to the author changes to render the Keys more 
effectual; and now, after their final revision, they are so 
simply and carefully arranged that even a child can follow 
them with ease, and discover by their aid the names of 
birds both in the hand and in the bush. 

Two series of Keys have been introduced: 

(1) Keys to be used only with birds in the hand; that is, 
with prepared skins, mounted specimens, or recently killed 
birds. These place emphasis on the parts which change 
least with age, sex, or season, and give exact measurements 
of these parts. 

(2) Keys to be used in the field for identifying the living 
birds that frequent our fields and groves. These emphasize 
such features as can be seen with the naked eye or through 
an opera glass, with the birds at some distance from the 
observer. In these Keys the birds are separated for conven- 
ience into groups, determined by their relation in size to our 
most familiar birds, the English sparrow and the robin. 

The illustrations were drawn especially for this work by 
Miss Ada Collins Apgar and Mr. Eichard B. Farley, and 
their scientific accuracy and careful execution add much to 



PBEFACE 5 

the value and the interest of the book. The line under each 
cut represents an inch, and can be used in measuring the 
various parts. Its main purpose, however, is to show the 
scale of the drawing. If the line is half an inch long, it 
indicates that the illustration is one half as large as the 
living bird ; if the line is but one tenth inch, the scale is 
but one tenth; etc. 

The map on page 41 shows the territory covered by the 
birds described in this book. Because of the migration of 
birds, a book describing all the species of a given section 
necessarily includes nearly all those of regions extending 
hundreds of miles beyond. Hence the ground covered by 
this book practically extends to Ontario, Quebec, etc. 

In nomenclature and classification, the "Check List of 
Xorth American Birds," by the American Ornithologists' 
Union, has been followed without any change, except a re- 
versal of the order of the families, the higher classes of 
birds being placed first. The numbers with the scientific 
names in parenthesis are in accordance with those in the 
Check List. These numbers will be found useful in com- 
paring the descriptions with those in other books where the 
same classification is followed ; also in labeling specimens 
of eggs, nests, or birds, without writing the full names. 
The common name at the beginning of each description is 
the one given in the Check List ; the names at the end in 
parenthesis are others in popular use. 

Scientific names are marked to indicate the pronunciation. 
The vowel of the accented syllable is marked with the grave 
accent ( v ) if long, and with the acute (') if short. 

Through the kindness of the authorities of the Academy 
of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and of the American 



6 PREFACE 

Museum of Natural History, of New York, the large collec- 
tions in both museums were placed at the disposal of the 
artists and the author. Thanks are due especially to Mr. 
Witmer Stone, Mr. Samuel N. Rhodes, Dr. J. A. Allen, and 
Mr. Frank M. Chapman for valuable advice and assistance. 

AUSTIN C. APGAR. 

State Normal School, 
Trenton, New Jersey. 



CONTENTS 



PART I 



EXTERNAL PARTS AND THE TERJIS NEEDED FOR THEIR 





DESCRIPTION 










PAGE 


CHAPTER I. 


Birds and their Feathers 9 


II. 


Head and Body .... 




. 14 


III. 


The Bill 






16 


IV. 


Wings 






22 


V. 


Legs 






26 


VI. 


The Tail 






31 


VII. 


Voice, Movement, and Migration 






84 


VIII. 


Nests and Eggs .... 






36 



PART II 

KEY, CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES 

Method of using the Key 39 

Key to the Families of Birds .... 42 

ORDER I. Perching Birds 49 

II. Hummingbirds. Goatsuckers, Etc. . . . 166 

III. Woodpeckers and Wrynecks .... 171 

IV. Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Etc 179 

V. Parrots, Macaws, Etc. 183 

VI. Birds of Prey .184 

VII. Pigeons, Etc 214 

VIII. Gallinaceous Birds 219 

7 



CONTENTS 



ORDER IX. Shore Birds . 

X. Rails, Cranes, Etc. 

XI. Herons, Storks, Etc. 

XII. Tooth-billed Waders 

XIII. Tooth-billed Swimmers 

XIV. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS 

XV. Tube-nosed Swimmers 

XVI. Long-winged Swimmers 

XVII. Diving Birds . 



PAGE 

227 
254 
263 
275 
276 
306 
314 
320 
337 



PART III 

The Study of Birds in the Field 349 

Key to Birds in the Field 355 

PART IV 

Preparation of Bird Specimens 373 

Glossary 391 

Index 397 



PART I 

EXTERNAL PARTS AND THE TERMS NEEDED 
FOR THEIR DESCRIPTION 

CHAPTER I 
BIRDS AND THEIR FEATHERS 

There is no group in Nature which can be defined so accu- 
rately and so easily as that of birds. Birds are animals with 
feathers. All animals with feathers are birds. Many other 
peculiarities might be mentioned ; many statements might be 
made about the structure and the organs of birds, which would 
make us realize more comprehensively the differences between 
them and other animate forms. A complete definition is neces- 
sary for the ornithologist; but man}?- years' work in botany 
and zoology in schoolrooms has convinced the author that such 
statements are beyond the comprehension of beginners, and 
that any attempt to force them on the pupils at the start 
results in loss of interest in the work. Full knowledge is a 
growth, hence the end, not the beginning, of the book is the 
place for a complete definition of birds. 

The great external parts of birds are the head, the body, 
the tail, the wings, and the legs ; these parts will be treated in 
subsequent chapters. The feathers form the covering, more or 
less complete, of all these parts. Feathers are the most won- 
derfully complex and perfect of skin growths. They not only 
protect the body from the effects of all atmospheric changes, 



10 



EXTERNAL PARTS 




but form the best and lightest of all flying organs. Some 
study of the parts of feathers and a knowledge of the descrip- 
tive terms applied to them are important. 

Parts and kinds of feathers. — Every feather 1 consists of the 
main scape, or stem, and the two ivebs. The scape has first the 
hollow portion, the calamus or quill, and then the four-sided 

solid portion, the 
rhachis, which ex- 
tends to the tip of 
the feather. The 
rhachis bears on 
each of its sides 
lateral processes 
called barbs. 
These, with the 
rhachis, form the 
spreading portion 
of the feather, the vane. The calamus has an opening at the 
bottom through which the pulp penetrates, and another open- 
ing, the superior aperture or umbilicus, on the lower side where 
the calamus joins the rhachis. 

The barbs are narrow plates obliquely joining the rhachis, 
and tapering to points at their free ends, their edges being 
directed upward and downward when the vane is horizontal. 
On the sides of the barbs are minute processes, called barbules, 
branching from the barbs as the barbs branch from the rhachis. 
These barbules are often serrated and terminated by little 
hooks which interlock with hooks on the next barbule. (All 
these parts can be seen with the naked eye, or by the aid of a 
magnifying glass. With a microscope, the barbules 
will be found to divide again into barbicels or cilia 
and Jwoklets, forming a fringe to the barbules.) This 
gives firmness to the vane. If there is no inter- 
locking of barbules, doivny 2 feathers are formed. Sometimes 
the scape is very long, and the barbs are very short; such 
feathers are called filament 2 feathers, or filoplumes. 




BIRDS AND THEIR FEATHERS 11 

Many a feather 3 has, besides what is above described, another 
rhachis, on its lower side, called an after shaft. This after- 
shaft joins the scape at the umbilicus, and has on its sides 
barbs and barbules about the same as those on the main rha- 
chis. This part of 
the feather, even 
when present, is, 
in all of our birds, 
much smaller 
than the main 
vane. The figure 
shows a feather 

from the back of the English sparrow, with an aftershaft, and, 
at the right, the aftershaft separated from the feather. 

The description so far given is that of the usual feather, and, 
if the aftershaft is present, of a complete feather. There are, 
however, many modifications of these forms, concerning which 
some knowledge is important. First, as has already been said, 
the aftershaft is frequently wanting. Sometimes the barbs 
are found on only one side of the rhachis ; this makes a one- 
sided vane. Frequently the barbs are lacking on both sides, 
thus changing the feather to a bristle, 4 as around the 
mouth, nostrils, and eyelids of most birds. Some- J^k^' 

times the barbs lack barbules on certain sections of * 

their length, forming feathers with transparent por- 
tions. Sometimes the barbs are so far apart that there can be 
no locking of barbules, even when present ; this causes the for- 
mation, in certain cases, of the most beautiful of plumes, as in 
the " aigrette " of the herons during the breeding season. 

In review, it is well to recall the types of feathers spoken 
of in the foregoing pages, and to notice examples of each, as 
shown in the English sparrow. 

1. The typical feather, or pen feather, where the interlocking 
of the barbs is complete, as in the great quills of the wing. 

2. The complete feather, where there is an aftershaft as well 
as the main vane, as in the larger feathers of the back. 



12 EXTERNAL PARTS 

3. The downy feather, or plume 1 feather, where the stem is" 
short and weak, the rhachis soft, and the barbs have long, 
slender, thread-like barbules without hooklets. These are 
abundant everywhere over the body of the sparrow, under and 
among the feathers which form the outer coating. 

4. The hairy 1 feathers, where the stem is very long and slen- 
der and the vanes very small. These can readily be seen after 
plucking the feathers from the sparrow as, apparently, hairs 
scattered over the body. They are the parts singed off by 
the cook before preparing a bird for the oven. 

5. The bristly feathers or bristles, 2 where the rhachis lacks 
vanes either throughout, or toward, the external end. These 
are abundant around the mouth of the sparrow. 

Many feathers show in different portions two or even more 
of the above types. A complete feather may have a downy 
base, &pennaceous center, and a bristly 2 tip. 

Location of different kinds of feathers. — The feathers which 
form the great bulk of the plumage of birds are called contour 
feathers. These usually consist of a perfect stem or quill at 
the base, an interlocked or pennaceous tip, and a downy por- 
tion between. They give outline, color, and most of the orna- 
mental appendages of birds. Among the different birds there 
is a wonderful variety of contour feathers. They range from 
the almost fish-like scales of the penguins to the magnificent 
gorget of the hummingbirds. In their various modifications 
they form almost all the gorgeous crests, tufts, ruffs, and 
plumes which render the birds the most beautiful of animate 
forms. These contour feathers can all be moved by muscles 
situated under the skin. Many birds have thousands of these 
feather muscles, by the aid of which the feathers can be made 
to stand erect, as can readily be seen in the turkey when its 
tail is erected and its feathers ruffled up, giving the bird the 
appearance of great beauty and of twice its usual size. 

Under these contour feathers and usually entirely hidden 
from view, but forming more or less of a complete covering to 
the body, there are the downy 1 feathers. These have the plume- 



BIRDS AND THEIR FEATHEBS 13 

like structure throughout. They frequently consist of a stem 
without any rhachis, the barbs forming merely a tuft at the 
end of the quill. 

Finally, there are among the contour feathers, coming from 
the same holes in the skin, long, slender, almost hair-like parts, 
Jila merit feathers, or hair 1 feathers. These have little distinction 
of stem and rhachis, and almost no barbs at all, though some- 
times there are a few small ones near the end of the rhachis. 

Besides the foregoing, which can be found on nearly all 
birds, there are peculiar growths which are characteristic of 
certain groups, distinguishing them from others. Thus the 
herons and a few other birds have on their breast and hips 
downy feathers which continue to grow indefinitely ; but as 
fast as they grow the ends crumble to powder, forming a whit- 
ish, greasy or dusty spot. These are called powder-doivn tracts, 
and are covered with powder-down feathers. 

Very few birds have the feathers equally distributed over 
the skin. Most birds have the feathers closely placed on cer- 
tain patches or bands of the body, while other spaces are either 
entirely bare (as the lower breast and belly of the English 
sparrow), or merely covered with down. The penguins and 
toucans have the skin almost entirely and evenly covered with 
feathers, but the great majorit}^ of birds have large open or 
naked spaces as far as the skin is concerned, though the plum- 
age as a whole in most cases really covers the body com- 
pletely. There are a few exceptions ; thus the head and more 
or less of the neck are naked in such birds as the vultures, 
buzzards, etc. 

The general marking or coloring of a bird depends upon the 
changes in the coloring of its individual feathers. Mottled 
plumage is given by margined 2, feathers; streaked plumage 
by striped* feathers ; spotted plumage by dotted 5 feathers, and 
barred plumage by cross-striped % feathers. 

5 




14 



EXTERNAL PARTS 



CHAPTER II 
HEAD AND BODY 

Certain regions of the head and body have received special 
names, which are mnch used in descriptions. A few diagrams 
and definitions of these parts will be necessary. 

The top of the head (see cut) is the crown ; in front of this 
next the bill is the forehead ; back of the crown is the nape. 
Above the eye there is a region often marked by a peculiar 
color ; this is the superciliary line, in this book usually called 
the line over eye. A line around the eye has been called orbital 



NOSTRIL. IN 
NASAL TOSSA 




ring. A straight band extending from the eye to the bill is 
called the lore; this strip is bare of feathers on many swim- 
ming birds. Below and back of the eye, in the region of the 
ear, are the auriculars. This region, including a little below it, 
forms the cheek. The back corner of the mouth forms the 
rictus. This section is often bristly with hairs which are called 
rictal bristles. 



HEAD AND BODY 



15 



The space just below the bill in front is the chin (see cut) ; 
below this, to about the bend of the closed wing (sometimes 
including the chin), is the throat. The greatest bulging portion 
of the body in front is the breast. From this backward, under 
the body, about to the legs in most birds, is the belly. Back of 
the position of the legs, in typical birds like the English 
sparrow, is the anal region (this is not marked on the diagram), 







and still further back is the crissum, or under tail coverts. From 
the hind neck about half way to the tail is the back; next comes 
the rump, and then the upper tail coverts. The under and upper 
tail coverts are formed of those feathers which cover the stem 
portion of the tail feathers. By the side of the back there are 
often a number of enlarged feathers, and these form the scapu- 
lars or shoulders. Under the wings are the sides in front, and 
the jlayiks back of them. In the description of birds in 
Part II., the expression back or upper parts is often used, in a 
more general sense, to include all of the back, rump, etc. In the 
same way below is used to include nearly all the lower parts. 



16 EXTERNAL PARTS 

CHAPTER III 

THE BILL 

The bills of birds, although equipped with neither lips nor 
teeth, have many offices. They are implements for cutting, 
handling, and carrying ; they are organs of touch or feeling ; 
they contain the nostrils for breathing and smelling. With 
the possible exception of the legs, no feature of birds is more 
varied in form, size, or appendages, or is more frequently used 



in systems of classification. Birds can often be classified into 
families by noting the peculiarities of the bill alone. It would 
therefore be well to study this chapter thoroughly before using 
the " Key to the Families of Birds." 

Parts of the bill. — The two great parts are the upper mandible 
and the lower mandible. These consist of projecting skull bones 
covered by a horny material, usually comprising one piece for 
each jaw. Both jaws are movable. The lower jaw, in most birds, 
has a great range of movement, while that of the upper jaw is 
but slight. In parrots this is reversed, the upper jaw having 



THE BILL 17 

the greater range. The ridge along the upper side of the 
upper mandible is the culmen, that along the lower side of the 
lower is the gonys. The gonys extends from the tip of the bill 
to where the central ridge forks ; these two ridges at the base 
are called the rhami (singular rhamus). The angle of the gonys 
is between the gonys and the rhami. 

The openings in the upper mandibles are the nostrils. These 
openings are frequently found in grooved portions of the bill ; 
in such cases the groove is called the nasal fossa (plural fossce). 
The gape is the whole opening of the mouth. Though rictus is 
sometimes used to mean the same thing, it is usually and more 
properly restricted to the back corner of the mouth as ex- 
plained below. The term commissure is used to indicate the 
edges of the mouth when closed, and the commissural point or 
angle is the back angle of the mouth. The word tomia is used 
to indicate the cutting edges of the mandibles. The rictus 
proper extends from the basal end of the tomia to the corner 
of the mouth. 

The covering of the bill. — The sheath-like covering of the 
mandibles is usually hard and horny as in the sparrows, but in 
many groups of birds it becomes, in part or as a whole, soft 
and skin-like, and is furnished with nerves of feeling. Most 
water birds, especially, have soft, leathery, or skin-like and very 
sensitive coverings to the bills, for feeling the food in the mud 
at the bottom of the water. A duck has a hard, so-called 
nail at the tip of the upper mandible. 1 A pigeon has a bill, 
soft at base and hard at tip, and a soft, swollen membrane at 
the top base of the upper mandible, roofing the nostrils. 2 
Eagles, hawks, and parrots have a peculiar covering over the 
base of the upper mandible extending beyond the nostrils. 3 
This covering is so peculiar that it is given a special name, the 
cere? because it frequently has a waxy appearance. In the 





1 2 

apgar's birds. — 2 





18 



EXTERNAL PARTS 



parrots the cere is generally covered with feathers, and looks 
much like a part of the forehead, but as the nostrils open 
through it, it must be considered as part of the bill. 

Positions of the nostrils. — The nostrils are frequently in a sort 
of hollow which has already been spoken of as a nasal fossa. 1 
The groove, if long and narrow, is sometimes called the nasal 
sulcus. 2 Many birds show no evident fossae at all, but the 
nostrils open flush with the surface of the bill. 3 

There are a number of terms used to denote the position 
which the nostrils occupy in the upper mandible. They are 
almost universally lateral, 4 that is, on the sides of the mandi- 
ble, away from the ridge; rarely they are culminal, 5 that is, 
together on the ridge of the culmen. The position on the 
sides, with reference to the width and length of the man- 
dible, is defined as follows: superior & indicates a position 
above the central line between the culmen and the tomia, 
and inferior 7 below it; basal* indicates a position at the fore- 
head; sub-basal d near it; median 10 half way between the base 
and the tip of the bill ; terminal " nearer the tip than the 
base. 

Kinds of nostrils. — The nostrils are usually open or pervious. 
Sometimes they are not distinctly open, in which case they are 
said to be impervious. Usually the two nostrils are sepa- 
rated by a partition; they are then said to be imperforate. 12 
Barely it is possible to see through the nostrils from side to 
side, as in the turkey buzzard, when they are said to be per- 
forate.™ 

Forms of nostrils. — A linear u nostril is elongated and of 




THE BILL 



19 



about equal width throughout; clavate, or club-shaped, 1 ' 3 indi- 
cates an enlargement at the end nearer the tip of the bill, and 
ovate 16 at the end nearer the base of the bill. An oval 17 nostril 
is widest near the middle and wide for its length, while an 
elliptical 18 one is narrower. If the nostril is about as wide as 
long, it is called circular; 19 if there is a raised border to the 
circular nostril, it is called tubular. 20 

Appendages to the nostrils. — The usual plan is to have the 
opening through material like the covering of the rest of the bill, 
of soft skin in the snipes, and of horn in the sparrows. Some- 
times there is a special piece of about the same material as the 
bill either above or below the nostril, called a nasal scale. 21 A 
more frequent appendage consists of feathers proper or bristle- 
tipped feathers. These are usually frontal feathers, more or 
less changed into bristles, often entirely filling the nasal fossse, 
and frequently so covering the base of the bill as completely 
to cover the nostrils. 22 This is well seen in the crow and in 
the blue jay. 

Sometimes the nostrils have special feathers of their own. 
If these are separated and quite feather-like, they form nasal 
tufts. 23 When not separated but extending from side to side, 
they form a ruff. M Those feathers or bristles which are turned 
forward are called retrorse. 22 

Other appendages to the bill. — The base of the bill is, in 
hawks, etc., covered by a special membrane extending beyond 
the nostrils; this is called a cere. 16 Something somewhat 
cere-like, but consisting of an enlarged and swollen mem- 




20 EXTERNAL PARTS 

brane 1 extending over the nostrils, is found in the doves and 
in the pigeons. The rictal portion of the mouth is frequently 
fringed with longer or shorter hairs; these are called rictal 
bristles. 2 

Shape of the gape. — The gape is straight 3 when the commis- 
sural line, formed by the tomia and the rictus, is straight. 
This line may be curved, 2 sinuate,* or angulate. 5 

General size and form of the bill. — The length of the head is 
used to measure the length of the bill. A long 6 bill is longer 
than the head, a short 7 bill shorter, and one of medium length 
is about as long as the head. A compressed 9, bill is one flat- 
tened sideways, so that its height is greater than its width. A 
depressed 9 one is flattened up and down, or is wider than high. 
A straight 10 bill is not only straight throughout its length, but 
is also in line with the head. If not in line with the head, it 
is said to be bent. 11 A recurved 12 bill is one that curves upward, 
and a decurved 13 bill one that curves downward. A bill may 
be decurved throughout, or it may have merely a decurved tip. 3 * 

The usual bill is sharp-pointed at the end and is called 
acute. 15 If it has an abrupt and somewhat rounded end, it is 
obtuse. 16 Acuminate 17 indicates not only an acute end, but a 
slender bill as well. If very slender and sharp, it is called at- 
tenuate. 18 In some cases, as among the hummingbirds, still 
more emphatic words are needed to denote slenderness and 
sharpness. Subulate 19 is more emphatic than attenuate, and 
acicular indicates the extreme limit in this direction. 




THE BILL 



21 



A bill is hooked w when the upper mandible is abruptly curved 
over the lower. In such cases the mandible often has teeth 
along its edge, and the word dentate 21 is used ; if there are a 
number of teeth of about equal size, the word serrate a is used. 
Spatulate, or spoon-shaped,™ indicates a bill much depressed as 
well as widened at the end. Cultrate, or knife-shaped, 24 indicates 
a much compressed bill with sharp edges. Falcate, or scythe- 
shaped, indicates a curved, cultrate one. In the crossbill, the 
upper and lower mandibles are oppositely falcate. 25 The ducks, 
geese, and a few other birds have a peculiar set of ridges just 
within the edges of the mandibles, in certain cases looking 
much like teeth ; they are called lamellm, and a bill that has 
them, lamellate. 26 

Besides the foregoing general terms, applying more or less 
to all bills, there are some special forms which have been given 
names that are frequently used in descriptions of birds. These 
need to be well fixed in mind. Conirostral indicates such a bill 
as the English sparrow has, — stout at base, conical in form, 
and with the gape so angulated as to bring the corners of the 
mouth down. Conirostral bills are short 5 in the sparrows and 
long 27 in the orioles. The swallows, etc., have Jissirostral 28 
bills. In this class of bills the culmen is very short, but the 
gape is both wide and deep, — about as wide as the head and 
so deep as to reach to the eyes. The creepers and the hum- 
mingbirds have tenuirostral 19 bills. The tenuirostral bill is 
slender, long, and has a rather short gape. The snipes have 
longirostral 6 bills ; the bill is elongated, nearly equal in size 
throughout, and with the upper mandible grooved for the slit- 
like nostrils. 





20 



' ^ 



25 






22 



EXTERNAL PARTS 



CHAPTER IV 



WINGS 



Use. — The general purpose of a wing is to be an organ of 
flight, and in most birds this is its principal use. In a few 
birds the body is too large and the wings are too small for 
this office. This is true in the ostrich and a few swimming 
birds. These use their wings to lighten their weight on the 
ground and possibly to aid them in running. In a few species, 
as in the penguins, the wings are not covered with feathers 
and quills, but with scale-like parts. In these, the wings act 
almost like the fins of fishes, and just like the paddles of 
whales and of porpoises, and enable the bird to move through 
the water almost if not quite as rapidly as any of the fishes. 

Some birds, as the divers, 
the dippers, etc., use their 
wings both for flight and 
for swimming. Many birds 
can use their wings as pow- 
erful weapons in fighting, 
and some have them fitted 
with strong and sharp spurs 
to render them the more 
useful for this office. Most 
birds make use of their 
wings to protect their 
young from enemies and 
from storms. 

Parts. — The bones and the flesh of the wings consist of 
four readily seen parts, — the upper arm, the forearm, the 
pinion, and the thumb. 

Feathers. — The quills or remiges are the stiffest, strongest, 
and most pennaceous (pen-like) of feathers, and form the spread 




WINGS 



23 



of the wing. These form the flight feathers proper. Their 
number is smallest in the hummingbird (16) and very large in 
the albatross (50 or more). Most of the other feathers are 
small and very weak ; they are used for covering up the bases 
of the quills, both above and below, and for this reason are 
called wing coverts. Besides the remiges and coverts of the 
wing there is a third group of small quills, fastened to the thumb. 
These quills form the alula or little icing; they are generally of 
little use to the bird. 




Quills. — The remiges or quills are readily divided into 
three groups, according to the joint of wing to which they 
are attached. Those fastened to the pinion are called pri- 
maries; those to the forearm, secondaries ; and those to the 
upper arm, tertiaries or tertials. This third term is generally 
applied rather indifferently to the inner secondaries, those 
attached to the elbow, which are frequently different in form, 
size, and color from the other secondaries. 

Primaries. — In number, the primaries are wonderfully uni- 
form, being in almost all birds either nine or ten. Not only is 



24 EXTERNAL PARTS 

there great uniformity with birds in this number, but the posi- 
tion of a bird in a system of classification can often be deter- 
mined most readily by the number of the primaries and the 
comparative length of the outer or first primary. 

Secondaries. — The secondaries vary in number from only six 
in the English sparrow to upwards of forty in the albatross. 
These secondary quills are sometimes peculiarly colored ; among 
some of the ducks they are very bright and iridescent. Such a 
colored spot on the secondaries is called a speculum} Sometimes 
the secondaries are very much enlarged and brilliantly marked, 
as in the Argus pheasant, and sometimes of remarkable shapes, 
as in some tropical birds. The inner secondaries are much 
elongated in the larks and in the snipe, and in the grebes they 
are all so long as to cover the primaries completely when the 
wing is closed. In the chimney swift and in the hummingbirds 
they are peculiarly short. 

Tertiaries or tertials. — The quills growing upon the upper 
arm — the true tertiaries — are not very evident upon most 
birds, but two or three of the inner secondaries are frequently 
conspicuous for either their length or their coloring; these 
are attached to the elbow and are the feathers which in 
the descriptions of the birds are generally called tertiaries. 
Sometimes conspicuously enlarged feathers on the shoulders, 
though not quills at all, are described as tertiaries. It is 
unfortunate that there is so little definiteness in the use of 
this term, but students will usually be right in considering 
any specially enlarged or peculiarly colored feathers about the 
shoulders of birds as being called tertiaries, as, for example, 
the enlarged inner secondaries of the larks, snipes, etc., and 
the peculiarly marked ones of the sparrows. 

First primary and point of wing. — When quills are com- 
pared in length, the comparison refers to the position of their 
tips when the wing is closed. The first primary is the outer 
one, seen from below, and is often very short, as in the blue- 
bird ; frequently it is nearly as long as the longest ; rarely it is 
the longest of all. Technically speaking, the expression first 



WINGS 25 

primary refers to the outer one of ten, as though we always 
considered the number to be ten ; if there are only nine 
primaries, the first one is absent, and the series begins with 
the second. In other cases where there is a very short one 
beginning the series, the first primary is called spurious. In 
this book, which is written neither for anatomists nor orni- 
thologists, but for beginners, no such technical use of the term 
will be attempted. The first primary - will always refer to the 
first apparent quill as seen from below at the outer edge of 
the wing. The point of the icing is frequently formed by about 
the third quill. 3 Sometimes, in what are called rounded icings, 4 
the fifth or sixth forms it, while in the pointed wings 2 of the 
swallows it is formed by the first. 

Coverts. — The feathers covering the bases of the primaries 
usually show imperfectly if at all on the closed wing, and are 
generally not mentioned in the descriptions of birds. The 
coverts fastened to the forearm on the upper side are the most 
important, and in many birds regularly form three series, as in 
the English sparrow. 5 The longest are called greater coverts. 
The next in size are called middle coverts. Each of these 
consists usually of a single row of feathers of nearly equal 
length. The last, called the lesser coverts, are generally small 
feathers in several rows. One or more rows of the coverts are 
apt to have their ends of a decidedly different color from the 
rest of the wing; these bands of color are called wing bars. 6 
The English sparrow has one white wing bar formed by the 
tips of the middle coverts. 5 The under side of the wings has 
under coverts, but these are rarely mentioned. 

The first primary and its length as compared with the others 
are important points to be determined in classifying most 
song birds. By raising the wing, if the bird is alive, or has 
been recently killed, the first primary will be readily seen. 




26 EXTERNAL PARTS 

If the bird is mounted, any raising of the wing should be 
prohibited as it would permanently injure the specimen. If 
the bird has been properly mounted for study, the wings will 
be spread enough to allow the first primary to show. If not, 
the feathers of the body can usually be pressed away from the 
wing by the tip of a pencil, enough to enable one to see it. 
The first primary is said to be spurious 1 when only about one 
third the length of the second, and short 2 when two thirds as 
long. 

In many birds of prey and in many shore birds, more or less 
of the primaries are rather abruptly narrowed on their inner 
webs ; such primaries are said to be emarginate or notched. 3 If 
not so abruptly narrowed, the word attenuated 4 is used. These 
words do not refer to the tip of the quill itself; it can be 
rounded, acute, or even acuminate. 

Forms of wings. — The three great varieties of wings are the 
long and pointed ^ (swallows), short and rounded 2 (wrens), and 
the ample, or both long and broad (herons). 



CHAPTER V 

LEGS 

Use. — The legs of birds serve many minor purposes in the 
different groups, besides the general one of locomotion. A 
large majority of birds perch on stems and hop (leap or jump 
would be more accurate words for the purpose) from twig to 
twig. The woodpeckers and many others climb up the surfaces 
of tree trunks ; ducks swim ; the grebes dive ; and the parrots 
grasp and handle. In the use of the organ for locomotion 
there are wonderful differences in the various families. The 



LEGS 27 

ostrich, can run more rapidly than the horse, the barn fowls 
can walk and run, the bluebird can only leap or hop, while the 
auks can scarcely waddle. 

The legs, like the bills, show a wonderful variety of modifi- 
cation in the different groups of birds. A careful study of 
either or both these parts will enable one to place any bird 
into its proper family. The use of the legs as a means of 
classification makes this chapter an important one, and it 
should be thoroughly studied before any attempt is made to 
determine the names of birds by the aid of the Key. 

Parts. — The terms applied to the different parts of the legs 
of birds will be better understood by the student if he recalls 
what he learned in physiology about the bones of his own leg, 
and then compares the joints with those in the legs of a bird. 
In the sparrows and a large proportion of other birds, the space 
from the heel to the claws is all that shows of the leg (see 
cuts, pp. 15 and 22) ; these parts are called tarsus and toes. 
The tibia is entirely hidden by the feathers, and the thigh is so 
united with the skin of the body as to seem a part of it. In 
the grebes even the tibia is confined by the skin of the body. 

The joint which bends forward in the hind limbs of all ver- 
tebrate animals is the knee, and the joint which bends back- 
ward is the heel. An examination of the horse's hind leg will 
show that it also has its heel as near the upper as the lower 
end of what appears to the eye as the leg, and that the knee is 
fastened to the body by the skin. 

Covering of legs. — The thigh is feathered in all birds. The 
tibia is also feathered in most of the higher birds ; but among 
wading birds there are on the tibia all stages of covering, from 
a completely feathered covering in the woodcock to one almost 
completely scaly in the stilts. The tarsus in most birds is 
scaly, but the grouse have it more or less completely feathered. 
Most of the owls have the tarsus fully feathered, and many 
of them the toes also. The barnyard fowls often have curious 
tufts of feathers on otherwise bare sections ; some of the wild 
birds also have some odd tufts irregular!}' placed. 



28 EXTERNAL PARTS 

The parts of legs which are bare of feathers need close 
observation, as the kind and arrangement of the scaly covering 
of these parts have much to do with the classification of 
birds. The commonest arrangement is to have a distinct row 
of squarish scales down the front of the tarsus, as in the Eng- 
lish sparrow. Sometimes such a row is also found down the 
back, as in most snipes ; occasionally there is found a row down 
the outside of the tarsus, as in the flycatchers. These large, 
squarish scales are called scutella, and the tarsus is described 
as scutellate in front, 1 in front and behind, 2 or in front and along 
the outer side, 3 as the case may be. In the bluebird and in 
some others these front scales are so completely grown together 
as to look like a continuous covering ; such a tarsus is said to 
be booted. 4 In many cases a portion of the tarsus, and in the 
geese the whole, is covered with small scales not very regularly 
arranged. These seem to form a fine network, and portions 
having such scales are said to be reticulate. 5 

The scutellate portions are different from the reticulate in 
another way. Scutella show as somewhat overlapping scales, 
and the whole forms a solid covering, but the small scales 
which form the reticulation are rather imbedded plates not 
touching at their edges, and the covering is apt to be more 
or less loose and pliable ; rarely, these plates are elevated at 
their centers, and thus form tubercles, as in the fish hawk; 
such a leg is said to be granulated. 6 Sometimes a row of plates 
of any kind will be so roughened, in a regular way, as to be 
properly called serrated. 6 

The toes are almost invariably scutellate along the top. The 
tibia, when bare of feathers, has scales much like those of the 
tarsus, and of course the same words are used for their descrip- 
tion. In some cases this part is covered with loose skin with- 
out any scales at all. 





LEGS 29 

Length of leg. — The proportional length of leg and body of 
birds is extremely variable. The leg is very short in swallows 
and in all true swimming birds, medium in sparrows, longer in 
hawks, very long in the ostrich, and exceedingly long in 
cranes, stilts, and wading birds generally. The tarsus varies 
from about one thirtieth to one third the full length of the bird. 

Number and arrangement of toes. — The usual number of toes 
is four, and among the birds of our region there are but few 
exceptions. The only other number represented in our fauna 
is three ; but the ostrich has only two. When the toes are four 
in number they are arranged in three ways. The most com- 
mon of all is shown in the sparrow, in which there are three 
toes in front and one behind. 1 In order to understand the modi- 
fications of this common plan, it is well to give names and 
numbers to the toes. The hind toe represents the great or 
inner toe of the human foot, and is called the hallux or first toe ; 
the inner front toe is the second toe ; the middle one the third 
toe; and the outer the fourth toe (see cut, p. 15). These, 
with few exceptions, have the following number of joints : 
the first toe two-jointed, the second three-jointed, the third 
four-jointed, and the fourth five-jointed. Some of our birds 
have the first toe absent, as will be shown hereafter ; all the 
rest have joints as given, except the goatsuckers, which have 
but four joints to the fourth toe. 

The second plan for the arrangement of four toes is shown 
in the woodpeckers, parrots, etc. In these there are two in 
front and two behind. 7 The first and fourth toes are behind, 
and the second and third in front. 

The third plan is represented in the owls. In these, the 
first toe is permanently behind, the second and third perma- 
nently in front, and the fourth can be used either in front or 
behind, 8 and for this reason is called a versatile toe. 







30 EXTERNAL PARTS 

When there are but three toes, the usual arrangement is to 
have them all three in front. 1 This is the same as the arrange- 
ment in the sparrow, except that the first or hind toe is want- 
ing, the three toes in front being the second, third, and fourth 
toes of ; the usual four-toed birds. Examples of this arrange- 
ment are found among the plovers. One of our woodpeckers 
lacks the first toe, and the fourth toe is thrown behind. This 
gives the last arrangement of three-toed birds ; viz. two in front 
and one behind. 2 

It will thus be seen that the first toe is in many cases en- 
tirely wanting. From its absence to its reaching the length 
and strength of the front toes, there are all possible grades 
found in the feet of our birds. The kittiwake gull has the 
hind toe so small and wart-like (often "without any claw), 
that it is readily overlooked by beginners in ornithology. 
Most of our plovers have just three toes, but the black-bellied 
plover shows a minute hind one. All of our barnyard fowl have 
a short hind toe, and in them, as in other birds with the first 
toe short, it is elevated 3 above the level of the front toes. 

Appendages of toes. — The toes of birds have claw-like nails ; 
these are called claws (or usually nails in this book), and vary 
much in strength, length, and curvature. They are so strong 
on birds of prey that they have the special name talons.* The 
hind claw is very long and almost straight 5 in the horned larks. 
In the grebes, the claws are much flattened 6 and resemble 
human nails. The herons and a few other birds have a curi- 
ous saw-like ridge along the inner side of the middle claw ; in 
these cases the claw is said to be pectinate. 7 

In many birds, the basal portions of some of the toes are 
more or less grown together. This growing together reaches 
the maximum in the kingfisher, where the outer and middle 
toes are united for half their length. 8 



THE TAIL 31 

The principal union of toes is through their connection by a 
thin, movable membrane ; this, whether small or large, is 
called webbing. In many families of birds, the three front toes 
have a distinct webbing at base only ; if this webbing does not 
reach more than half way, the feet are semipalmate. 9 In the 
ducks, terns, etc., the front toes are webbed to the claws. This 
plan, which is so common, is called palmate} A few of our 
birds have all four toes joined by a full webbing, and for this 
arrangement the word totijmlmate 11 is used. Some birds with 
more or less webbing at the base of the toes have, in addition, 
a stiff, spreading membrane along the sides, sometimes lobed, 
sometimes plain ; this plan is called lobate. 12 In the sea ducks, 
the front toes are palmate and the hind toes lobate ; 13 in the 
grebes, the front toes are lobate. Many of the snipes have a 
narrow border along the edges of the toes, but not wide enough 
to be called lobate ; these are said to be margined. 14 



CHAPTER VI 
THE TAIL 

Use. — The general office of the tail is to guide the bird in 
flight, but it is also used for other purposes. The wood- 
pecker climbs trees, and the chimney swift climbs and rests 
on the sides of chimneys by its aid. 

Kinds of feathers. — The feathers of the tail, like those of 
the wings, are of two sorts: quill-like feathers and coverts. The 
true tail feathers, or rectrices, are stiff, pennaceous, well-devel- 
oped feathers having a strong quill and a broad, spreading vane, 
with rarely any plain aftershaft, or downy portion. The 
inner side of the vane is wider than the outer. The number 




32 EXTERNAL PARTS 

of tail feathers is almost always even, and varies from none to 
upwards of thirty. This statement seems to indicate great 
variation among birds with reference to the rectrices ; in 
reality there is but little variation, as a very large proportion 
of birds have twelve, and the numbers eight, ten, twelve, 
and fourteen, will include all except a few odd forms, most of 
which are not found in the region covered by this book. The 
rectrices have their bases covered, both above and below, by 
short feathers called upper tail coverts and lower tail coverts. 

Arrangement of rectrices. — The central pair of tail feathers 
is above all the others, and each successive pair outward lies 
under all the preceding ones. 

Forms of rectrices. — A tail feather of the English sparrow 
illustrates the usual form. It can be seen to widen gradually 
toward the tip. The more important variations from this 
type are the lanceolate, 1 where the vane is widest near the base, 
and gradually narrows toward the tip ; the linear, 2 where the 
vane is narrow throughout; and the filamentous? where it is 
very narrow, as in the outer tail feathers of the barn swallow. 

Varieties of tip and texture. — The usual tip is rounded; 4 if 
very abruptly and squarely tipped, it is said to be truncate; 
if obliquely and concavely cut off, incised; if regularly sharp- 
pointed, acute; if abruptly sharpened, acuminate. 5 Most acu- 
minate feathers are apt to be stiff and are used as an aid in 
climbing ; such feathers are said to be rigid. Some feathers, 
while having the vane rounded, have the rhachis extending as 
a hard point beyond it ; in this case the feather is spinous 6 or 
mucronate. 

If the vane, instead of having its margin straight, has 
its edge in rounded curves, it is said to be crenulate. Some- 
times the rhachis curves upward at the center ; in this case the 
feather is said to be vaulted or arched. If the bending is side- 



THE TAIL 33 

wise, it is described as curved outward or inward, according to 
the side which shows the bulging outline. 

Shape of the tail as a whole. — The usual shape of the tail is 
like that of a fan, but there are many and very important modifi- 
cations of this form. Some of these are characteristic of certain 
groups and are much used in classification; thus most terns 
can be separated from the gulls by this feature alone. If 
the tail feathers are even in length, the tail is said to be even, 
square, or truncate. 1 If the central pair is the longest, and 
each successive outer pair is shorter, the tail is graduated. 5 If 
each pair is shorter by a constant amount, the tail forms a 
regular angle, and might, if at all common, be called an angu- 
lated 8 tail. A much commoner variety is said to have each 
successive pair shorter by an increasing amount ; this forms the 
rounded tail ; 4 sometimes each successive pair is shorter by a 
decreasing amount, and this forms a ivedge-shaped or cuneate 
tail. If the central pair is excessively long, the tail is said to be 
exserted; 9 when not so excessively elongated, it is 'pointed. 

The opposite of graduation is very common among birds ; that 
is, each successive outer pair is longer than the preceding pair. 
If this is true merely to an inappreciable extent, as in the English 
sparrow, the tail is emarginate ; 10 but when the difference is great 
enough to make a very distinct angle, as in the chipping sparrow, 
the tail is forked; 11 and the prefixing of the word slightly or deeply 
tells how great the forking is. In deeply forked tails, like those 
of the barn swallow, the outer rectrices are narrowed so as to be 
filamentous. Such tails are said to be forficate. 3 

Sometimes there is a combination of the two plans above 
given. If the middle pair is short, and about three pairs out- 
ward are successively longer, and the last two successively 
shorter, the outer and middle pairs having about equal lengths, 
a doubly rounded 12 tail is formed. If the middle pair is long 




apgar's birds. 




34 EXTERNAL PARTS 

and the next two or three pairs successively shorter and 
the rest successively longer, a doubly forked tail is the result. 
This variety, though common among sandpipers, is so slight a 

forking that doubly emarginate 1 would be a better 

term. 

In examining a tail to discover to which type it 

belongs, the student should be careful to spread the 
feathers but little. An emarginate tail might readily be made 
to appear square or even rounded by widely spreading it, and 
a truncate tail would always be changed to a rounded one. 

The upper and lower tail coverts consist of numerous short' 
feathers, and are never wanting, though the upper ones are 
often very short, as in the ruddy duck, and sometimes very 
long, as in the peacock, where the upper coverts, and not the 
rectrices, form the gorgeous tail of the male bird. In some 
of the storks the under coverts form the elegant plumes. The 
under tail coverts form the crissum of a bird. 



CHAPTER VII 

VOICE, MOVEMENT, AND MIGRATION 

The sounds made by birds are so peculiar, and so different 
from those that can be represented by letters, that any attempt 
to form such sounds into words is sure to prove more or less 
of a failure. The only successful way to learn a bird by its 
notes, is to see the bird while hearing it. Afterwards the 
sounds will reveal the bird. Beginners can hardly appre- 
ciate the variety of notes a single bird can make. Some 
have thought the only noises a catbird makes are those made 
when disturbed. The fine songs of birds are always made 
when undisturbed. Birds sing different »'ongs at different 
seasons, but the finest of all are those made during the nest- 
ing time. A number of birds that seem to have no vocal 
powers during the greater part the year, sing sweetly in the 



VOICE, MOVEMENT, AND MIGRATION 35 

spring. A still greater number, which merely chirp at other 
times, trill a long series of notes during mating time. It is 
the male bird that sings ; the female at best only chirps. 
Nothing adds more to the enjoyment of nature than a knowl- 
edge of the notes, songs, and warblings of the birds. No 
teacher or book can give you more than a start toward the 
attainment of this knowledge. Two rules only can be given : 
(1) Learn to know birds. (2) Carefully observe them and 
listen to their songs. 

As soon as you have learned to know birds, you will find 
among them many differences besides those of voice, form, and 
color. The places they frequent, — pond, marsh, meadow, up- 
land, shrubbery, or forest, — in the water, on the ground, 
among the rocks, on the trunks of trees, or in the tree tops, — 
are as varied as their notes. 

Their habits of sitting, their course in flight, their method of 
starting, their ways of coming to rest, are all peculiar to each 
bird. 

Their solitary or social habits, their friendly or quarrelsome 
ways, are also well worthy of observation and study. 

The way they flit their tails, the way they nod and twitch 
their heads, the way they use their feet, are other peculiarities 
that will aid you in recognizing them. 

You will have to acquire this kind of knowledge out of 
doors. It cannot be taught in schoolrooms. It cannot be 
taught to any extent even by a teacher who accompanies his 
pupils on their trips. The teacher and books have done their 
work when they have given the names of the birds. The rest 
you must do for yourselves. 

Among the most interesting of all the peculiarities of birds, 
are the migrations of a large proportion of them. Many 
live and nest in the far north, hundreds of miles beyond the 
limits of the United States, and go south to the Gulf States, 
in the winter, traveling more than a thousand miles to their 
new abode. These, for the northern United States, are but 
birds of passage. Others, while nesting in Canada and Labra- 



36 EXTERNAL PARTS 

dor, spend their winters in the middle or the western states, 
and form for those sections winter residents. Still others nest 
with us and go south in winter to the Gulf States, or even to 
the West Indies and South America. These are summer resi- 
dents. Some endure and even seemingly enjoy all the changes 
of climate any of our localities afford ; these stay in the same 
place throughout the year. They form our resident birds. 
Doubtless many of those species which may be found at all 
seasons are somewhat migratory ; that is, the individuals we 
have in the winter come from places somewhat further north, 
and those that are here in the summer find warmer places 
further south in the winter; but some birds, like the English 
sparrow, never migrate. 



CHAPTER VIII 
NESTS AND EGGS 

There is no better or more useful work than to watch birds 
build their nests, hatch their eggs, and raise their young. 
After the student is able to recognize birds without difficulty, 
he is prepared to watch them and to learn all he can of their 
ways of living, their mating, their singing, their nesting, their 
eggs, their young, etc. It is not difficult to observe birds 
without disturbing them. An interest in living birds will soon 
lead the student" to love them, and then he will be able to act 
when near them so as not to annoy or interrupt them in 
their work. 

We have all read of men who could go among the most 
timid animals without disturbing them, and probably some of 
us have envied such people. But that power does not come 
spontaneously; it is gained only by careful attention to the 
peculiarities of the animals, the result of interest in their 
habits, which will lead to, if it does not begin with, an affection 
for them. Those who love birds find no great difficulty in 



NESTS AND EGGS 37 

studying their habits. A good opera glass will enable a person 
to see a bird as well as though it were at half the distance. 
When at a distance of fifty feet it can be seen as distinctly as 
with the naked eye at a distance of twenty-five feet. 3Iost 
birds can be approached as near as fifty feet by a person who 
has no gun and who shows by his actions that he does not in- 
tend to harm them. 

This book is written chiefly to help you to recognize birds, 
not to tell you all about them. But if you are interested in 
the study it will be a great pleasure to you to learn all you 
can about the birds that frequent your locality. Through book 
study alone no complete knowledge can be gained of birds or 
indeed of any animals. On the other hand, there are facts 
about the life history of migratory birds as well as the distri- 
bution of all birds, which can be learned only from the com- 
bined observations of many people, in many places, and so can 
be acquired only by reading. After you know a bird well 
enough to recognize it easily, it might be well for you to read 
a little about it, then watch it, listen to its song, examine its 
nest, observe all its habits. After that you will be ready to 
read with advantage and appreciation auything that has been 
written on the subject by creditable authors. 

AVhen examining birds' nests and eggs, do not handle them. 
It does no good, and may cause the bird to desert the nest. 
After the young birds have left the nest, you can without any 
harm secure it for your cabinet. In the chapter on preserving 
specimens you will find directions for cleaning eggs. Any 
extensive collections of eggs by students generally should 
not be encouraged; no eggs should ever be gathered without 
certain knowledge of the species of the bird. Such eggs are 
absolutely worthless for a collection. The variety of eggs 
which a single species lays is in many cases very great, and 
the number of species which lay similar eggs is also great, 
so there is no certain way of determining eggs except by obser- 
vation of the birds. Your love for the birds, your feeling of 
horror at their useless destruction, and your desire for their 



38 EXTERNAL PARTS 

protection and increase ought to make you slow to interfere 
with their nests and eggs. Single eggs of most birds can be 
carefully taken from nests, without special harm. More than 
this should never be appropriated except for the purpose of 
completing great collections, which can be studied by thou- 
sands of people. Such institutions as the American Museum 
of Natural History in New York City, the National Museum 
in Washington, and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Phila- 
delphia, should of course be supplied with full sets of eggs 
with their nests. The educational value of such collections 
overbalances the injury done. But the usefulness of private 
collections is not great enough to justify the injury to the 
birds. A collection for the educational uses of a school, made 
by taking single eggs from nests, answers all the ordinary 
demands. 



PART II 

KEY, CLASSIFICATION, AND DESCRIPTION OF 
THE SPECIES 



METHOD OF USING THE KEY 

Caution. — In using the Key, never read any statements 
except those to which you are directed by the letters in paren- 
thesis. 

Rule. — First read all the statements following the stars (*) 
at the beginning of the Key; decide which one of these -best 
agrees with the specimen you have. At the end of the chosen 
one you will find a letter in parenthesis ( ). Somewhere be- 
low, this letter is used two or more times. Read carefully all 
the statements following this letter; at the end of the one 
which most nearly states the facts about your specimen, you 
will again be directed by a letter to another part of the Key. 
Continue this process until instead of a letter there is a number 
and a name. The name is that of the Family to which your bird 
belongs. Turn to the descriptive part of the book where this 
family number, in regular order, is found. The headlines 
on the right-hand pages will show you which way to turn for 
the family sought. Under all Families of more than three 
species, another Key will enable you to determine the species. 

The illustrations are as accurate as they could be made in 
black and white, but too much reliance must not be placed 
upon them. The student must remember that there are sea- 
sonal, sexual, local, and even individual differences as well as 

39 



40 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



the great variations for age. The whole description should be 
read before deciding. The measurements of parts are very 
important and should always be noted. Generally these meas- 
urements are only average ones, and some differences may 
be allowed for. In order to judge of the amount to allow, 
notice the extent of the variation in the length of the wing 
as given in parenthesis. Other parts vary in about the same 
proportion. Dimensions are always given in inches and such 




fractions thereof as are found on all common rulers. The 
" length " of the bird is the distance from the tip of bill with 
the neck extended to the end of the longest tail feather. In 
mounted birds, allowance must be made for the curved neck. 
The "wing" is the straight distance from the bend of the 
wing to the tip of the longest primary. This can always be 
accurately determined from any specimen ; and so throughout 
the book, in both keys and descriptions, great use is made 
of this measurement. The " tail " is the length of the long- 



METHOD OF USING THE KEY 



41 



est tail feather to the flesh in which it is fastened. This 
cannot be accurately measured without feeling (by placing 
the thumb and first finger above and below the tail coverts) 
for the fleshy mass to which all tail feathers are attached. 
The "tarsus" can be readily measured. It is the distance 
from the joint at the heel to the toes. The word " culmen " is 
almost always used in the book instead of " bill," because its 
measurement is more easy and certain. It is the straight dis- 




tance from the beginning of the bill at the forehead to the tip. 
The " toe " measures only the length to the base of the nail. 
If length to the tip of nail is intended, the expression "toe 
and nail " or " toe and claw " is used. 

The name at the beginning of each description is the common 
name of the bird as decided upon by the American Ornitholo- 
gists' Union; the names at the end in parenthesis are other 
names in more or less common use. 



42 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



For convenience of reference the pictures of bird parts are 
repeated in the Key. The map on p. 41 shows the portion of 
the United States covered by the birds in this book. 

KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 

* Swimming birds : legs rather short ; three front toes either with full 

webbing, 1 or with such membranes along their sides 2 as to take the 
place of webbing. (All birds with the front toes webbed to about 
the nails will be found in this group, excepting one very long-legged 
bird with the tarsus 12 inches or more long. All the illustrations in 
this book, from p. 279 to p. 348, are of swimmers.) 

Key to the Families of Swimming Birds, p. 48. 

* Wading birds : legs in most cases much elongated ; tibia always ex- 

serted, and in most cases more or less naked below (see p. 248) ; tail 
relatively short ; few have the tail extending beyond the tip of the 
wings when closed ; toes frequently with more or less webbing at 
base, 3 sometimes narrowly lobed along the sides. (Some species of 
these birds live habitually in dry localities, but their forms are very 
characteristic, and only a few ground birds, such as the meadow 
lark or quail, could possibly be placed in this group. All the illus- 
trations from p. 227 to p. 275 are of waders.) 

Key to the Families of Wading Birds, p. 46. 

* Birds fitted neither for swimming nor for wading. (A.) 

A. With only 2 toes in front, and in most species 2 behind ; 4 eyes on 
the side of the head, as is usual with birds. (Q. ) 

A. Eyes in a facial disk, and thus directed forward instead of side- 
wise ; 5 outer toe can be used either before or behind — 

— Nail of middle toe smooth on the inner side 

XXVII. Horned Owls, etc. 

— Nail of middle toe saw-like on the inner side 6 

XXVIII. Barn Owl. 

A. With 3 toes permanently in front and 1 toe (rarely absent) be- 
hind ; 7 eyes directed sideways. (The vultures, p. 212, are excep- 
tions, as the outer toe can be used behind as with the owls : these 
are large birds, with the head and neck nearly bare of feathers. 9 ) (B.) 




^=\ 







.<*> 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 



43 



, Bill hooked and with a distinct membrane (cere) at the base, extend- 
ing past the nostrils 8 — 

— Head fully feathered, or nearly so XXIX. Hawks, etc. 

— Head and neck naked or merely covered with hair 9 

: XXX. Vultures. 

. Bill without cere, and in most cases not strongly hooked. (C.) 
C. Hind toe short, small, inserted above the level of the others ; " front 
toes with a plain webbing at base ; 7 bill generally stout, short, 
and horny ; 10 outer primaries of the wing curved and usually 
stiff ; ground-living game birds — 

— Wing, 4-15 inches long XXXIV. Grouse, etc. 

— Wing over 16 inches long XXXIII. Turkeys. 

C. Bill straight, the horny tip separated from the base by a narrow por- 
tion ; nostril opening beneath a soft, swollen membrane u (hard 
and somewhat wrinkled in mounted birds) XXXI. Pigeons. 

C. Bill stout, straight, longer than the head ; 12 feet with the outer 
and middle toes grown together for half their length ; 13 tarsus 

very short XXIII. Kingfishers. 

C. Bill very slender and long ; 14 the smallest of birds ; wings not over 

1\ long in our species XIX. Hummingbirds. 

C. Bill with the top ridge or culmen very short, but the gape both 
wide and deep, reaching about to the eyes ; 15 gape usually three 
times as long as the culmen. (0. ) 
C. Xot as above. (D.) 

. Inner secondary quills lengthened, nearly as long as the primaries in 
the closed wing ; 16 nail of hind toe much lengthened and generally 
straightened ; n the ground birds called "larks." (N.) 
. Inner secondaries not especially lengthened ; the first primary 
short, 18 never more than J as long as the longest, usually less than 
| as long, sometimes barely noticeable on the under edge of the 
wing.i9 (J.) 
. With neither the inner secondaries very much lengthened nor the 
first primary much shortened ; the first primary always more than 
| as long as the longest quill. (E.) 
E. Bill broad, depressed, wider than high at base, usually tapering to 
a point, which is often abruptly hooked. 23 (H.) 



r^ 



18 



J^k 



15 





44 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



(E. Bill slender, about as high at base as broad, and regularly curved 
downward from the base to the very acute tip. 1 The Bahama 
Honey Creeper (636. Ccereba bahamensis), of the family Ccerebidae, 
has been found in southern Florida.) 
E. Bill higher than broad at base. 2 (F.) 
F. Bill stout at base, and with the gape so angulated as to bring the 
corners of the mouth downward ; 2 3 4 5 6 10 no lobes or nicks along 
the cutting edge of the upper mandible. (G.) 
F. Bill stout, with convex outline, and with lobes or nicks near the 
center of the upper mandible, 7 but not crossed at tip ; wing, 31 long ; 

tail even XII. Tanagers. 

F. Bill stout, compressed, notched, and abruptly hooked near the tip ; 8 
plumage olivaceous ; tail without either white or yellow blotches ; 

wing, 3f or less long VIII. Vireos. 

F. Bill not as above, little, if at all, hooked ; colors in most species 
bright and distinctly marked ; tail feathers generally blotched with 

white VII. Wood Warblers. 

G. Upper ridge of bill extended backward so as to divide the feathers 
of the forehead ; 256 no notch at tip of bill or bristles at the rictus 
(if any bristles can be seen they are less than T ^ of the length of 
the bill) ; bill not over f as high at base as long, in most species 

less than \ as high XIV. Blackbirds, etc. 

G. Ridge of bill not especially extending upward on the forehead 
(except in a few very stout-billed birds with the bill as high as 

long) ; bill usually short, stout, and conical. 3 9 10 4 

XIII. Finches, etc. 

H. Rictal bristles absent ; nostrils overhung with bristles ; tail short, 
even, and tipped with a yellow band ; head crested. 11 . . X. Waxwings. 
H. Rictal bristles numerous and long. 12 (I.) 

I. Tarsus with a sharp ridge behind and a distinct row of square 
scales (scutella) merely down the front; 13 wing, 2— 2| long; no 

crest VII. Wood Warblers (Flycatching) . 

I. Tarsus rounded behind and with the scutella lapping round on the 
outside of the tarsus about to the back portion ; u wing, 2^-5| 

long ; crest small or none XVIII. Tyrant Flycatchers. 

J. Tarsus (booted) covered with a continuous plate along the front ; 15 





<3 ® 





4^ 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 



45 



no distinct squarish scales, except near the toes (a very young bird 
of this group will show scutella, hut they are gradually fused together 
as the bird grows older) — 

— Wing, 1\ or less long II. Kinglets. 

— Wing, 3 or more long I. Thrushes, etc. 

(J. Tarsus (scutellate) covered with a row of rectangular scales in front 

and behind ; 16 wing, 7-9 long ; tail, 9-11 long. .XXXII. Curassows.) 
J. Tarsus (scutellate) covered with distinct rectangular scales only 
along the front. 13 17 (K.) 
K. Bill stout, compressed, distinctly notched and hooked at tip ; 
nostrils and rictus with bristles ; 8 18 no crest — 

— Wing,' 2-3 £ long VIII. Vireos. 

— Wing, 3^ or more long IX. Shrikes. 

K. Bill, if hooked at tip, having the nostrils without bristles extending 

over them ; in most species the bill is not hooked. (L.) 
L. Tail feathers acute-pointed and somewhat stiff ; 19 bill slender and 

decurved ; x back mottled brown ; belly white IV. Creepers. 

L. Tail feathers rounded at tip and the outer ones white ; bill slender 
and somewhat notched at tip ; back bluish-gray ; belly white ; wing, 

2-2 £ long II. Gnatcatchers. 

L. Not as above, but with the tail feathers rounded at tip and soft. (M.) 
M. Bill long and stout; nostrils covered with bristly feathers 20 (ex- 
cepting a western, dull, blue-colored jay); large birds, 10-25 long. . 

XVI. Crows, etc. 

M. Bill rather slender ; culmen more or less curved ; nasal feathers 
not directed forward over the nostrils ; tail rounded ; either small 
birds, 4-61 long, with barred quills, 21 or large birds, 8-12 long, with 

quills not barred V. Mocking Birds, Wrens, Thrashers, etc. 

M. Bill neither notched at tip nor much decurved ; nostrils concealed 

by dense tufts of bristly feathers ; small birds, 4-7 long 

III. Nuthatches, etc. 

M. Bill with the culmen about straight; wings about 5 long; tail 

about 2 J long and square at tip XV. Starlings. 

N. Nostrils overhung with bristly feathers ; tarsus (scutellate) with a 
row of nearly square scales, behind as well as before ; 16 nail of hind 
toe longer than the toe and nearly straight ; bill not very slender . . . 
XVII. Larks. 



^a^« 





46 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

N. Nostrils exposed ; tarsus not scutellate behind ; nail of hind toe very- 
long but curved ; * wing, 3-3^ long VI. Pipits, etc. 

N. Nostrils exposed ; wing over 3| long ; breast with yellow 

XI V. Meadow Larks. 

N. Not as above ; some forms in XIII. Finches, etc. 

0. Plumage mottled browns and soft ; middle toe much longer than 
the side ones ; its nail (pectinated) with saw-like teeth on the inner 

side 2 XXI. Goatsuckers, etc. 

0. Plumage compact ; nail of middle toe not pectinated. (P.) 
P. Tail of stiff feathers (in our common species the tail is rounded, with 

stiff shafts extending beyond the webs) 3 XX. Swifts. 

P. Tail without stiff feathers and never rounded, often forked and with- 
out spinous tips ; head never crested XI. Swallows. 

P. Tail nearly square ; its feathers tipped with yellow, head crested 4 . . . 

X. Waxwings. 

Q. Bill stout and decidedly hooked, higher at base than long ; bright- 
colored bird with yellow, orange, and green feathers 

XXVI. Parrots. 

Q. Bill stout and straight ; 5 tail feathers stiff and acute-pointed 6 

XXII. Woodpeckers. 

Q. Bill various, but always somewhat curved and without teeth along 

the cutting edge ; tail long, of round-tipped soft feathers 

XXV. Cuckoos, etc. 

Q. Bill short, broad, and decidedly toothed ; ~ tail long, of 12 broad 
feathers XXIV. Trogons. 

Key to the Families of "Wading Birds 

* Toes in front webbed to the nails like the duck's ; 8 bill with teeth-like 

ridges, also like the duck's ; legs with the tarsus 12 inches or more 
long ; Florida XLIX. Flamingoes. 

* Nails of the toes excessively lengthened and nearly straight ; nail of the 

hind toe much longer than its toe ; 9 southern Texas 

XXXV. Jacanas. 

* Birds with neither full-webbed toes nor nails lengthened and straight- 

ened. (A.) 







KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF BIRDS 47 

A. Head with a horny shield on the forehead ; 10 in other respects fully- 
feathered XLII. Rails, etc. 

A. Head with more or less of naked tracts (free from feathers but 
usually with some hairs) in front of the eyes or around the 
eyes ; n M some species have the head entirely naked. (H.) 
A. Head fully feathered and without horny shield. (B.) 
B. Bill hard throughout and not sensitive (a peculiar smoothness of bill 

of dried specimens will show that the bill was hard in life). (E.) 
B. Bill weak and soft, at least at base, often long, and slender; if short, 
pigeon-like ; hind toe always less than half the length of the inner 
one, sometimes absent ; (dried specimens usually show the surface of 
the bills so roughened or dull in color as to indicate their soft condi- 
tion when alive). (C.) 
C. Toes with lobed membranes along their edges as wide as the toes, 
sometimes wider ; 13 tarsus much flattened sideways ; body flattened 

below , . XLI. Phalaropes. 

C. Legs exceedingly long, the tarsus over 3| long. XL. Avocets, etc. 
C. Tarsus less than 3| long ; toes with no wide membranes along their 
edges. (D.) 
D. Bill usually shorter than the head, pigeon-like, the soft base sepa- 
rated by a narrow portion from the hard tip ; 14 toes only three (one 
species has a hind toe | inch long) ; tarsus (reticulate) with rounded 

scales in front XXXVIII. Plovers. 

D. Bill slender ; nostrils narrow, exposed slits in elongated grooves ex- 
tending from a half to nearly the full length of the bill ; 15 tarsus (scu- 

tellate) with transverse and more or less square scales in front 

XXXIX. Snipes, etc. 

E. Bill, 2f-8 long. (G.) 
E. Bill, i-2f long. (F.) 
F. Tarsus, middle toe and nail, and bill each about 1 long ; the bill 

nearly straight ; wing about 6 long XXXVII. Turnstones. 

F. Xot as above ; tarsus usually shorter than the middle toe and nail ; 

if the tarsus is about 1 long, the wings are much less than 6 long 

XLII. Rails, etc. 

G. Bill nearly straight, much flattened sideways and very blunt at 

tip ; 16 toes only three and webbed at base. XXXVI. Oyster-catchers. 

G. Bill somewhat curved downward ; tarsus, 3|-6 long ; wing, 10-14 

long XLIII. Courlans. 

G. Bill about straight ; tarsus, 6-12 long ; wing, 16-25 long ; young : 
XLIV. Cranes. 




48 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



G. Bill very broad and flattened, twice as wide near tip as at the 

middle ; 1 young XLVIII. Spoonbills. 

H. Nail of middle toe (pectinated) with a fine, saw-like ridge on the 

inner edge ; 2 bill straight, acute, and with sharp cutting edges 

XLV. Herons, etc. 

H. Nail of middle toe without saw-like teeth. (I.) 

I. Bill very broad and flattened, twice as wide near the tip as at the 

middle 1 XLVIII. Spoonbills. 

I. Bill narrow, about as wide as high, gradually and decidedly curved 

downward for its whole length 3 XLVII. Ibises. 

I. Bill either narrow, straight for half its length and then curved 
downward, 4 or else a very large bill (over 2 high at base) with the 

end curved upward 5 XL VI. Storks, etc. 

I. Bill higher than broad, about straight, not very acute ; 6 very large 
birds over 40 long, with very long necks and legs. XLIV. Cranes. 

Key to the Families of Swimming Birds 

* Hind toe present and connected with the inner toe by a webbing; i.e. 

all four toes webbed." (E.) 

* The front toes bordered by broad membranes for their whole length — 8 

— Diving birds with legs at the end of body LXIV. Grebes. 

— Legs near center of body. XLI. Phalaropes, or XLII. Rails, etc. 

* The three front toes connected together by webbing. 9 (A.) 

A. Bill with teeth or ridges along the edges, easily seen from the lower 

side 10 L. Ducks, etc. 

A. Bill with the cutting edges even. (B.) 
B. Legs inserted so far back along the body that the bird in standing has 
to take a vertical position (see p. 342) ; diving birds — 

— No hind toe LXII. Auks. 

— Hind toe present, short LXIII. Loons. 

B. Legs so inserted that the body in standing takes nearly a horizontal 

position. (C.) 
C. Nostrils tubular, the tubes near together at the top of the bill ; n 

wings less than 13 long LVII. Shearwaters, etc. 

C. Nostrils tubular, the tubes on the sides of the bill near the base ; 

wings, 16-30 long LVIII. Albatrosses. 



-^^ 






ORDER I. PERCHING BIRDS 49 

C. Nostrils not tubular but slit-like. (D.) 
D. Upper mandible decidedly hooked at tip and plainly made up of 
separate pieces, one forming a kind of roof to the nostrils ; 12 tail 

dark-colored, with the middle feathers lengthened LXI. Jaegers. 

D. Upper mandible not made up of separate pieces and at least as long 

as the lower mandible LX. Gulls, etc. 

D. Bill flattened sideways and knife-like ; the lower mandible longer 

than the upper one 13 LIX. Skimmers. 

E. Bill straight or slightly curved. (G.) 

E. Upper mandible decidedly hooked at tip, hawk-like. 14 (F.) 
F. Tail, 14-20 long and forked for half its length ; space in front of eyes 

bare of feathers 13 LI. Man-o'-War Birds. 

F. Tail, 5-10 long ; bill less than 4 ; plumage dark. LIII. Cormorants. 

F. Tail, 5-8 long ; bill 8-15 long ; plumage light LII. Pelicans. 

G. Bill stout at base and slightly curved near tip ; 16 wing, 14-22 long. 

LV. Gannets. 

G. Bill slender and nearly straight ; wing, 12-14 long ; neck very 

long LIV. Darters. 

G. Bill stout, slightly curved ; wing, 10-12 long. . .LVI. Tropic Birds. 



ORDER I. PERCHING BIRDS (PASSERES) 

This is the highest and much the largest order of birds ; 
it contains nearly half of our birds (those east of the 
Rocky Mountains in the United States) and more than 
half of all known birds. In it are found the finest of the 
songsters. 

The toes are four in number, three in front and one behind. 
The front toes are divided about to their bases and have no 
webbing or membrane along their sides. The hind toe is on a 
level with the rest and as long as the shortest front toe. The 
legs are slender, comparatively short, and so placed as to give 
the body, when at rest, a horizontal position. In size these 
birds range from very small to medium; from the size of a 
kinglet to that of a robin, or a little larger. 




12 13 

apgar's birds. — 4 



50 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



FAMILY I. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. (TURDID.E) 

This large family (300 species) is usually separated into sev- 
eral subfamilies. 

The Thrushes are generally large, hopping birds, noted for 
their song, plain colors, and usually spotted breasts. The 
tail is nearly square tipped, of wide, soft feathers. 
They are woodland birds of migratory habits ; 
even when, as in the case of the robin, 
we have them throughout the year, 
it is probably true that those 
with us in the winter 
came from places far- 
ther north, and "those 
which are found here 
in the summer wintered 
farther south. 




Townsend's Solitaire The first primary is a 

very short one ; 1 bill rather 
long and slender ; the upper mandible usually with a slight notch near 
the tip. Nostrils oval, the bristly front feathers nearly reaching but never 
concealing them ; rictus with bristles ; 2 tarsus booted. 3 



Key to the Species 

* Tail about an inch shorter than the wings. (A.) 

* Tail about as long as the wings and with its outer (under) feathers 

broadly tipped with white ; bill peculiarly broadened at base and 
hooked at tip. Townsend's Solitaire (754. Myadestes townsendii) , 
which is pictured above, is sometimes found east of the Rocky 
Mountains, though its usual habitat is westward to the Pacific. It 
is a dull brownish-ash-colored bird with wings from 4 to 4| inches 
long. 

* Tail slightly longer than the wings ; no white on the tail, but the under 

tail coverts chestnut. The catbird might be looked for here, as its 
tarsus is somewhat booted. It will be found in Family V., p. 65. 




FAM. I. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 



51 



A. Plumage more or less blue, rather brightly so on the tail 

9. Bluebird. 

A. Head and tail quite dark colored, almost black ; outer (under) tail 
feathers tipped with white ; breast brownish. .6. American Robin. 

A. Tail blackish, the outer feathers tipped with white ; a dark collar 
across the breast ; western 7. Varied Thrush. 

A. Outer tail feathers white at base but broadly black tipped ; upper 
tail coverts white 8. Wheatear. 

A. Tail without white or blue ; breast spotted ; general color brownish. 

(B.) 
B. Upper parts reddish on head, shading to olive on rump and tail 

1. Wood Thrush. 

B. Upper parts olive on head, shading to reddish on rump and tail 

5. Hermit Thrush. 

B. Upper parts from forehead to tip of tail of almost the same shade of 

color. (C.) 
C. Upper parts reddish from head to tip of tail 

2. Wilson's Thrush. 

C. Upper parts olive throughout. (D.) 
D. Throat, breast, and ring around eye a rich creamy-buff 

4. Olive-backed Thrush. 

D. No distinct buffy eye ring, and the throat 

and breast nearly white, with only a slight 

buffy tinge ; a grayish blotch in front of 

the eye 3. Gray-cheeked Thrush. 

1. Wood Thrush (755. Turclus mus- 
terinus). — A large, common, brown- 
ish-backed thrush, with white, heavily 
spotted nnder parts, including the sides. 
The crown is a bright cinnamon-brown, 
and the back gradually changes in shade 
to an olive-brown on the tail. It is not 
at ail confined to the woods, as its name 
would indicate, but is often seen on 
shaded lawns and in shrubbery. Its 
power of song is very great, com- 
paring well with that of any of the 

thrushes. 

Wood Thrush 
Length, 8 ; wing, 4^ (4-4^) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 
1\; culmen, f. Eastern United States; breeding from Virginia and 
Kansas northward, and wintering south to Central America. 




52 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Wilson's Thrush 



2. Wilson's Thrush (756. Turdus fuscescens). — A large 
thrush, with a dull cinnamon-brown back, uniform in tint 

from head to tail. Its 
throat, belly, and sides are 
white ; its breast buffy, 
delicately marked with tri- 
angular brownish spots. A 
retiring, though not par- 
ticularly shy bird, inhabit- 
ing the dense woodlands, 
especially low, wet ones, 
and usually to be found 
nearer the ground than the 

wood thrush. Its notes are among the sweetest given by any 

bird, but it is impossible to write them in words or music. 

Its peculiarly weird song must be heard to be appreciated. 

(Veery ; Tawny Thrush.) 

Length, 1\ ; wing, 4 (3f-4|) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, f. Eastern 
North America from Ontario southward ; breeding from northern Ohio 
and New Jersey northward, and wintering mainly south of the United 
States. The Willow Thrush, a variety of the last (756 a . T. f. saliciola), 
is a little larger, and has the upper parts less tawny, a russet-olive color, 
only a slight buff tint to the throat, and very few. spots on the white 
breast. Length, 7f ; wing, 4 ; tail, 3*- ; tarsus, 1£ ; culmen, f. Kocky 
Mountain region, occasionally east to Illinois and possibly to South 
Carolina. 

3. Gray-cheeked Thrush (757. Turdus alicice). — A uniformly 
olive-backed thrush, with the middle of throat and belly white, 
the sides of throat and breast faintly buffy, spotted with tri- 
angular marks, and a whitish eye ring. In front of the eye 
there is a grayish blotch. A shy bird, of which but little is 
known, as it has been confused with the variety, Bicknell's 
Thrush, next given. (Alice's Thrush.) 

Length, 7| ; wing, 4f- (3f-4§) ; tail, S\ ; tarsus, 1^; culmen, \. East- 
ern North America ; breeding mainly north of the United States, and 
wintering south to Central America. Bicknell's Thrush, a variety of the 
last (757 a . T. a. bicknelli), is somewhat brighter colored and smaller. 
Length, 6f ; wing, 3| (3»-3J) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, |. Breed- 



FAM. I. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 



53 



ing in the mountains of the northeastern states and Nova Scotia ; migrat- 
ing south in winter. Song very much like that of Wilson's Thrush. 

4. Olive-backed Thrush (758 a . Turdus ustuldtus swainsdnii). 
— A -uniformly olive-backed thrush with the whole throat, 
breast, and eye ring a deep 
cream-buff, and the space in 
front of the eye the same 
color, instead of grayish as 
in the last species. A very 
shy bird, rarely seen, but 
often heard in notes simi- 
lar to the hermit thrush's, 
though not so sweet. Its 
summer home is among the 
firs and spruces of the north. 




Olive-backed Thrush 



Length, 1} ; wing, 3f (3i-4|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, |. East- 
ern North America, mainly in the mountains ; breeding from northern 
New England northward, and migrating in winter to South America. 

5. Hermit Thrush (759 b . Turdus aonaldschkcB palldsii). — A 
small thrush with olive-brown back changing abruptly to cin- 
namon-brown near the tail; the throat and breast somewhat 

buffy, with dark 
roundish spots abun- 
dant on the sides of 
the breast ; middle of 
the belly white. A 
retiring, though not 
especially shy, bird, 
with about the sweet- 
est and purest notes 
given by any of our 
feathered friends. 




Hermit Thrush 



Length, 7 ; 
(3i-3|) ; tail, 



wing, 31 
2|: tar- 



sus, \\; culmen, |. Eastern North America ; breeding from the north- 
ern Alleghanies northward, and wintering from the northern states 
southward. 



54 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




6. American Robin (761. Merula migratbria). — A very com- 
mon, large, red- or brown-breasted, slate-colored bird, with 
white on the throat, lower belly, and tips of the outer (under) 

tail feathers. The 
head and tail are 
much blacker than 
the back. The breast 
is unspotted except 
in very young birds. 
The robin is a noisy 
bird, but with less 
powers of song than 
any other of the 
American Eobin thrushes. 

Length, 10; wing, b\ (4|-5i) ; tail, 4\ ; tarsus, If ; culmen, f. Eastern 
North America ; breeding from Virginia northward, and wintering irregu- 
larly from Canada southward. 

7. Varied Thrush (763. Hesperocichla ncevia). — A large slaty- 
backed bird with much orange-brown below and on the wings, 
and a dark collar across the breast. The tail is blackish, 
and the outer (under) 
feathers broadly tip- 
ped with white. This 
bird is about the size 
of the robin, belongs 
to the Pacific coast, 
but has been seen a 
few times in the 
Eastern States (New 
Jersey, New York, 
Massachusetts, etc.). 

(Oregon Kobin.) 

Varied Thrush 

8. Wheatear (765. 

Saxkola oendnthe). — A small, northern, light-gray-backed, 
whitish-bellied bird, with black cheeks and wings. The fore- 




FAM. I. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. 



55 







Wheatear 



head, upper tail coverts and basal half of the tail feathers are 
white, the rest of the tail black. Female similar, but duller 
and browner. Young 
with much cinnamon- 
brown and without the 
cheek stripe. (Stone- 
chat.) 

wing, 4 

; tarsus, 
1 ; culmen, \. An Old 
World species breeding in 
Labrador and straggling 
southward to the United 
States (Maine, Long Is- 
land, New Orleans). 

9. Bluebird (766. Sir 
alia sidlis). — A very 
common, small, blue-backed, chestnut-breasted, white-bellied 
bird. The female is more of a grayish-blue. Till the introduc- 
tion of the English sparrow, this bird was to 
be found everywhere around our homes. Its 
sweet, joyous singing welcomed in the spring, 
and its sadder notes of autumn told of 
the dying year. From southern New 
York and Illinois southward, it is to be 
found throughout the year. In the 
northern portion of its winter range 
a few can generally be found liv- 
ing near cedar groves. 

Length, 6£; wing, 4 (3|-4|) ; tail, 
2 1 ; culmen, \. From the Rocky 
Mountains eastward throughout the 
United States, north to Ontario. The 
Mountain Bluebird (768. Sialia 
arctica), a large bird without chest- 
B1 , . , nut on the breast, and with a more 

greenish-blue on the back, has been 
occasionally seen east of the Rocky Mountains. 




56 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




FAMILY II. KINGLETS, GNATCATCHERS, WARBLERS 
(SYLVflDJE) 

This family includes a large subfamily (100 species) of 
Old World Warblers not represented in America, and two 

small subfamilies rep- 
resented in our fauna. 
The Kinglets are very 
small, musical, tree- 
loving, active, oliva- 
ceous birds, with, in 
^— - the adult, some bright 
yellow or red on the 
crown, and a short, 
even or notched tail. 

n ,, , r , w The Gnatcatchers are 

Golden-crowned Kinglet 

very small, sprightly, 
ashy-colored, woodland birds, with long, graduated tails. Our 
species build very beautiful nests among the high branches of 
the trees. 

Key to the Species 

* Outer (under) tail feathers shortest 1 and white; tarsus scutellate; 2 

colors gray 3. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. 

* Outer (under) tail feathers about the longest and without white ; 

tarsus booted ; 3 colors, olive-green with usually a yellow, orange, or 
ruby-colored spot on the crown. (A.) 

A. Crown patch bright-colored, bordered with black 

1. Golden-crowned Kinglet. 

A. Crown patch, if present, ruby-colored, but without black 

2. Ruby-crowned Kinglet. 

1. Golden-crowned Kinglet (748. Begulus satr&pa). — Avery 
small, olive-green-backed, whitish-bellied bird, with a bright 
crown patch of gold or orange color, margined with black. The 



FAM. II. KINGLETS, GNATCATCHERS, ETC. 



57 



male has orange and yellow; the female, only yellow. The 
kinglet is a fearless, nervous, quick-moving bird, found abun- 
dantly flitting among the most slender twigs of the trees at 
the proper season. The voice of the kinglet is marvelously 
rich and the singing unusually continuous for so small a bird. 

Length, 4 ; wing, 2} (2-2 \) ; tail, If ; tarsus, f ; culmen, \. North 
America in general; breeding. from the northern states northward (in the 
mountains as far south as North Carolina), and wintering throughout 
most of the states, south to the Gulf or even into Central America. 

2. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (749. Eegulus calendula). — This 
bird is like the last, ex- 
cepting that there is no 
black on the head ; the fe- 
male even lacks the bright 
crown patch of color, and 
the male is apt to keep his 
bright red feathers hidden. 
The female and young ap- 
pear just like warblers (the 
American warblers belong- 
to Family VII.), but are de- 
cidedly smaller than any of the olive-green-backed species, 
excepting those which have bright yellow below or conspicu- 
ous white blotches on the tail feathers, seen when the bird is 
in flight. 

Length, 4\ ; wing, 2\ (2-2f ) ; tail, 1 f ; tarsus, f ; culmen, \. North Amer- 
ica in general ; breed- 
ing mainly north of the 
United States (in the 
Kocky Mountains farther 
south) , and wintering from 
the Carolinas south to 
Central America. 

3. Blue -gray Gnat- 
catcher (751. Polidptila 
coerulea). — A very 
small, bluish-gray bird, 




Ruby-crowned Kinglet 




Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 



58 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

with blackish wings and tail ; the outer (under) tail feathers 
are white, the forehead marked with a black border, and the 
under parts lighter and duller than the back. The female is 
without the black on the forehead. This is a bird usually 
found among the upper branches of forest trees, and though 
his song is sweet and varied, it can be heard but a little dis- 
tance. His call note, a sharp ting, is readily heard. 

Length, 4| ; wing, 2\ (2-2 J) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, \\ culmen, f. Middle 
and southern sections of the eastern United States ; breeding from Illinois 
and New Jersey southward, and wintering from Florida to Central 
America. It is rarely, though sometimes, found as far north as Maine 
and Minnesota. 

FAMILY III. NUTHATCHES AND CHICKADEES (PARID^E) 

A family (100 species) of small birds, forming two widely 
separated subfamilies. The Nuthatches are small, active, rest- 
less, creeping, short-tailed, long-winged birds, marked with 
white, black, and brown colors. These noisy, but not musical, 
sharp-billed birds are among the most nimble of creepers, 
scrambling about in every direction, with the head downward 
as often as in any other position. They derive their name 
from the habit of wedging nuts into crevices of the bark, and 
then hacking or hammering away with the bill till the shell 
is broken. These nuts form only a small portion of their 
food ; generally they are insect eaters. The Chickadees are all 
small, active, short-billed, long-tailed birds. Our species are 
plain birds of white, black, and ashy colors. The titmice, 
which are included in the subfamily, are conspicuously crested, 
while the chickadees proper are without crest. The latter are 
so called from the notes they utter, chick-a-dee. 

Key to the Species 

* Tail about as long as the wing and graduated ; 1 bill less than a 

half inch long, and stout for its length. (B.) 

* Tail about half the length of the wing and square ; bill a 

half inch or more, long and slender. (A.) 
A. White below with rusty brown only on the under tail 1 

coverts 1. White-breasted Nuthatch. 



FAM. 111. NUTHATCHES AND CHICKADEES 59 

A. Under parts generally with much rusty brown ; crown black 

{male), or bluish-gray {female) ; a white stripe over eye 

2. Red-breasted Nuthatch. 

A. Crown and sides of head brown, without stripes 

3. Brown-headed Nuthatch. 

B. Head conspicuously crested ; 2 throat and under parts nearly white, 

with rusty-brown sides 4. Tufted Titmouse. ^ 

B. Head without crest ; throat black or dusky. (C.) /^ *\ 

C. Top of head brown ; sides of body chestnut ^4^ \ 

7. Hudsonian Chickadee. "^ . 2 

C. Top of head black. (D.) 

D. Greater wing coverts with whitish edges 5. Chickadee. 

D. Greater wing coverts without whitish edges . . 6. Carolina Chickadee. 

1. White-breasted Nuthatch (727. Sitta carolinensis). — A 
short-tailed, tree-creeping, bluish-backed, black-crowned, white- 
bellied bird, with brown blotches on the under tail coverts. 
The sides of the head are 
white like the throat and 
breast, and the back neck 
black like the crown. The 
female has the black not 
so intense. The nuthatches 
are peculiar in their ability 
to run along tree trunks 
in all directions, with the 
head downward as often 
as upward. They are not 
singers, but have a call 
note of quank quank, which they repeat with no reference to 
the position of their body. 

Length, 6 ; wing, 3^ (3|-3J) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f . Eastern 
United States from Georgia to the Dominion of Canada; generally resident 
throughout. The Florida White-breasted Nuthatch (727 b . S. c. atkinsi) 
is somewhat smaller and has the wing coverts and tbe quills very slightly, 
if at all, tipped with whitish. Wing less than 3 J ; tail, If. It is found 
from South Carolina to Florida. 

2. Red-breasted Nuthatch (728. Sitta canadensis). — A short- 
tailed, tree-creeping, bluish-backed, brownish-red-breasted bird, 
with the black of the top and sides of the head separated by a 




White-breasted Nuthatch 



60 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Red-breasted Nuthatch 



broad distinct white line over the eye. This is a more northern 

species than the last, 
and can easily be 
distinguished by the 
black line on the 
sides of the head 
and neck, and the 
generally l^rown un- 
der parts. 

Length, 4|; wing, 2 } 
(2$-2£); tail, 1£ ; cul- 
men, £. North Amer- 
ica ; breeding from 
northern New York, 
northern Michigan 
northward (farther 
south in the Allegha- 
nies and Rocky Moun- 
tains), and wintering 
southwards to the Gulf. 

3. Brown-headed Nuthatch (729. Sitta pusilla). — A small, 
brown-crowned, bluish-backed, whitish-bellied nuthatch, with 
no white line over the 
eye, but with a whitish 
patch on the back neck. 
This is the nuthatch of 
the southern pine woods, 
where it is found associ- 
ated with woodpeckers, 
but unlike them in their 
tree-top living habits, it 

scrambles up and down 

, , , -if. i-i v , Brown-headed Nuthatch 

the trunks from the bot- 
tom to the top. All the nuthatches are much alike in habits, 
and are wonderfully nimble in their movements. Most creepers 
use the tail as an aid in supporting the body on perpendicular 
surfaces; but these birds make no such use of their short, 
square tails. The woodpecker's feet are strengthened by having 




FAM. III. NUTHATCHES AND CHICKADEES 



61 



the outer toe turned backward; but the nuthatch's feet have 
only a slight enlargement of the nails. 

Length, 4J; wing, 2 J ; tail, 1J; tarsus, f; culmen, J. South Atlantic 
and Gulf States, north to Maryland ; accidentally to New York, Missouri, 
etc. 

4. Tufted Titmouse (731. Pctrus bicolor). — A loud-voiced, 
conspicuously crested, gray bird of the woods, with some black 
on the forehead and brown on the sides. Its 
loudest notes are a constant repetition of 
peto peto, sometimes changed to de- 
de-de in somewhat less rii 
tones, producing a slight imi- 
tation of the notes of 
the chickadee. It is not 
at all shy, and so may 
be readily approached. 
(Crested Tit.) 




Length, 6 ; wing, 
(3- 3 h) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 



Tufted Titmouse 



southern Iowa ; casual in southern New England ; resident throughout. 

The Black-crested Titmouse (732. Pants atricristatus) differs from the 

last species in having the whole crest, 
instead of only the forehead black. It 
is a somewhat smaller bird. Length, 
5|; wing, 2| ; tail, 2|. Southeastern 
Texas and eastern Mexico. 

5. Chickadee (735. Pctrus atri- 
capillus). — A small, black-capped, 
black-throated, ashy-backed bird, 
with the rest of the head and 
breast white ; under parts buffy. 
This and the next species are 
much alike, but this has the 
greater wing coverts margined 

with white. Its common name expresses as closely as possible 

its whistled notes, chick-a-dee. 




Chickadee 



If its notes are well imitated, 



62 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



the bird will approach closely, or even alight on a person. 
(Black-capped Chickadee.) 

Length, b\ ; wing, 2±- (2|-2|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, § ; culmen, |. Eastern 
North America north of the Potomac and Ohio valleys to Labrador ; it 
migrates a little beyond its breeding range. 

6. Carolina Chickadee (736. Ptirus carolinensis). — A bird 
similar to the last, but smaller, and with the greater wing 

coverts not margined with 
white. Though the notes of 
this species are somewhat 
different from those of the 
last, this difference is not so 
uniform as to render the 
printed form of much use to 
the beginner. It also calls 
I i itself a chickadee, though 

not so plainly. (Southern 
Carolina Chickadee Chickadee.) 

Length, 4| ; wing, 2| (2£-2§) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, £ ; culmen, ~\. South- 
eastern States north to 
New Jersey and Illinois, 
and west to Missouri and 
Texas ; practically breed- 
ing throughout. 





7. Hudsonian Chick- 
adee (740. Parus hud- 
sdnicus). — A small, 
brownish-ashy-backed 
bird, with grayish 
crown, wings, and tail, 
a distinct black throat 
patch, and brownish 
sides. The rest of the ^^ CMckadee 

bird is white. This 

northern chickadee has also peculiar notes, which need to be 
heard to be understood. 



FAM. IV. CREEPERS 



63 



b\ ; wing, 2| (2|-2|) ; tail, 1\ ; tarsus, | ; culmen, |. North- 
ern North America from northern New England and northern Michigan 
northward ; rarely south to Massachusetts. 

FAMILY IV. CREEPERS (CERTHflD^E) 

A very small family (10 species) of Old World birds, repre- 
sented in this country by the 
following : 

1. Brown Creeper (726. Cer- 
thia famili&ris americcina). — A 
small, tree-creeping bird, with 
mottled-brown back, white un- 
der parts, a slender decurved 
bill, and long, acute-pointed tail 
feathers. The tail is used as a 
partial support, as in the case 
of the woodpeckers ; a common 
upward-creeping bird, with lit- 
tle fear of human observers. 
When the top is reached it sud- 
denly drops to the bottom, and 
again begins its search for food. 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2& (2§-2§) ; tail, 2f ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. Eastern 
North America ; breeding from Maine and Minnesota northward, and 
wintering as far south as the Gulf States. 




Brown Creeper 



FAMILY V. MOCKING BIRDS, WRENS, ETC. (TROGLODYTID^) 

This family (150 species) of mainly American birds consists 
of two widely differing subfamilies. The Mocking Birds form 
a group of 40 species of American singing birds, of large 
size and plain colors, inhabiting mainly the bushy borders of 
the woods and other shrubbery. The tail in all cases is as 
long as the wings, and in one of our common species much 
longer. The bill is nearly as long as the head. The Wrens 
form a larger group (100 species) of small, mainly American, 



64 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

sprightly, fearless, excitable, plain-colored birds, with the 
plumage more or less extensively barred with narrow darker 
bands. The habit of holding the tail erect is very general. 
If these birds did not mingle so many of their characteristic 
scolding notes with their song, they would be considered very 
musical. 

Key to the Species 

* Birds under Q\ long, with wings under 3 long (Wrens). (B.) 

* Birds over 8 long, with wings over 3 long (Mockers). (A.) 

A. Whole upper parts a rich reddish-brown ; tail an inch longer than 

the wings ; bill about an inch long 3. Brown Thrasher. 

A. Slate-colored bird, with chestnut on the under tail coverts 

2. Catbird. 

A. Wings blackish, with white bases to the primaries ; outer tail 

feathers also white ; bill, f or less long 1. Mocking Bird. 

A. Back ashy-gray ; wings and tail darker and more 
brownish ; bill, 1^ or more long and decurved. 1 The 
Curve-billed Thrasher (707. Harporynchus curviros- 
tris) of Mexico and New Mexico has been found in t 

Texas. 
B. Back with black, white, and brownish streaks, extending length- 
wise. (E.) 
B. Back without streaks extending lengthwise, or bars extending cross- 
wise ; a distinct white or whitish line over the eye. (D.) 
B. Back without streaks, but with some cross bars ; no very distinct 
whitish line over the eye. (C.) 

C. Under parts whitish ; tail about as long as the wings 

6. House Wren. 

C. Under parts brownish, barred with black ; tail a half inch shorter 

than the wings 7. Winter Wren. 

D. Tail like the back in color, reddish brown ; under parts buffy 

4. Carolina Wren. 

D. Tail feathers, except the barred middle pair, blackish, tipped with 

grayish ; under parts whitish 5. Bewick's Wren. 

E. Crown as well as back streaked with white ; bill under i long 

8. Short-billed Marsh Wren. 

E. Crown without white streaks, but a white line over eye ; bill \ or 
more long 9. Long-billed Marsh Wren. 

1. Mocking Bird (703. Mhnus x>olygl6ttos). — A large, ashy- 
colored, long-tailed bird, with much white on the center of 
wing and outer tail feathers. This is the most noted song- 



FAM. V. MOCKING BIRDS, WEENS, ETC. 



6b 




bird of America, and as a mocker the most wonderful in the 
world. He is to be found in woods, gardens, parks, and even 
in the streets of 
towns, always fear- 
less and alert, and 
with the power to 
mimic almost any 
sound in nature. 
Mr. L. M. Lumis re- 
ports having heard 
one imitate thirty- 
two different species 
of birds in less than 

a quarter of an hour. 

Mocking Bird 
Length, 1(H ; wing, 
4| (4-5) ; tail, 5 ; tarsus, 1\ ; culn?en, f . United States to Mexico ; rare 
north of Maryland, though found in southern Ohio and Massachusetts ; 
winters from Florida southward. 

2. Catbird (704. Gdleoscoptes caroUnensis). — A large, very 
common, slate-colored bird, with a chestnut-colored patch 
under the tail and almost black crown and tail. This gro- 
tesquely active bird 
can be found every- 
where around our 
orchards and shrub- 
bery. It is a very 
charming, but not 
loud, singer, and a 
good m i m i c ; most 
people know it only 
by its cries when dis- 
turbed. 

Length, 8f ; wing, 3f 

(3f-3f ) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 

11 ; culrnen, f. North 

America, though common only east of the Rocky Mountains ; breeding 

from the Gulf States northward, and wintering in the Southern States. 

apgar's birds. — 5 




Catbird 



66 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Brown Thrasher. 



3. Brown Thrasher (705. Harporhynchus rufus). — A common, 
large, long-tailed, brown-backed bird, with the white under 
parts heavily spotted or streaked with dark-brown, except on 
the throat and middle of the belly. The wings, tail, and crown 

have the same rufous color 
as the back. It is an inhabit- 
ant of the ground or the 
lower growths along fences 
and the borders of the woods. 
It is a rich, sweet singer 
of its own notes, but not a 
mocker of the notes of other 
birds. When singing it 
usually perches on a twig in 

a prominent position as though it wished all to know how 

melodious a vocalist it is. (Brown Thrush.) 

Length, Hi; wing, 4| (4-4$) ; tail, 5£ ; tarsus, If ; culmen, 1. East- 
ern United States, west to the Rocky Mountains, north to Ontario; 
breeding throughout and wintering north as far as Virginia. Besides 
this species and the Curve-hill Thrasher given in the Key, there can be 
found in Texas Sennett's 
Thrasher (706. Harpo- 
rhynchus longirdstris sen- 
netti), a bird much like 
the brown thrasher, but 
with a darker - brown 
back, blacker spots on 
the lower parts, and a 
longer (lj-li) and some- 
what decurved bill. 

4. Carolina Wren 

(718. Thryothorus lu- 
dovicicbnus). — A ner- 
vous, scolding wren, 
distinctly barred, 
rich-brown, with long curved bill, a very distinct whitish line 
over the eye, and a tail the color of the back. It inhabits 
undergrowths in wet places, and has the ability to disappear 




Carolina Wren 



FAM. V. MOCKING BIMDS, WRENS, ETC. 



67 



from sight and appear again with surprising quickness. Its 
fear and its curiosity alternate in power over its actions. It 
has been called mocking wren from the variety of its vocal 
notes, some of which are so loud and ringing as to be com- 
parable with those of the tufted titmouse. It is probably resi- 
dent wherever found. (Mocking Wren.) 



-2 , wing, 2| (2i-2i) ; tail, 2{ ; tarsus, | ; culmen, f . East- 
ern United States, west to the Plains, and north to southern New York 
and southern Michigan ; 
resident or nearly so 
throughout. 



5. Bewick's Wren 
(719. Thrydthorus be- 
ivickii). — This is a 
slightly smaller, less 
distinctly barred wren 
than the last, with 
a tail quite a little 
darker than the back, 
and without bars on the 
primaries ; the outer 
tail feathers are black, 
tipped with grayish. 

This species is a sweet singer of clear, ringing notes, and 
very fearless. It is found around outhouses, fences, etc., and 
is in every way more deliberate in its movements than either 
the house or Carolina wrens. Its long tail frequently leans 
toward the head. 




Bewick's Wren 



Length, b\ ; wing, 2,\ (2-2 i) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, \. Eastern 
United States, west to Nebraska ; common in the Mississippi Valley ; rare 
and local east of the Alleghanies and north of central New Jersey ; mi- 
gratory along the northern border of its range. Baird's Wren, a variety 
of this species (719 b . T. b. bairdi), is found in Texas, Kansas, and west- 
ward to southern California. It is a more ashy-brown bird, with pure 
white on the middle of the belly, and white specks on the sides of the 
head. 



■^ 



68 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




»- 



House Wren 



6. House Wren (721. Troglddytes diedon). — A dark-brown 
wren, with the tail decidedly more reddish than the back. The 
wings, tail, sides, and flanks 
are fully cross-barred with 
darker lines, and the under 
parts are whitish. As its 
name indicates, it likes to 
live near human habita- 
tions, returning to the same 
place year after year, and 
building its nest in the same 
hole in a log, bird box, or 
chink in an outhouse. It is active, irritable, noisy, and coura- 
geous. It is resident in the Southern States, and is there so 
numerous in winter as to overflow the settled regions, and so 
is found in the forests miles from any house. 

Length, 5; wing, 2 (1|-2|); tail, If; tarsus, f ; culmen, \. Eastern 
United States north to southern Ontario, and west to Indiana and Louis- 
iana. It winters from South Carolina southward. The Western House 

Wren (721t>. T. a. dzte- 
cits) is a variety of this 
species with less of red 
on the upper parts, and 
the back and rump are 
very distinctly barred 
with blackish. As a 
whole, it is a lighter 
colored bird. Interior 
United States from near 
the Pacific, eastward to 
Illinois. 

7. Winter Wren 
(722. Troglddytes hi- 
emcllis). — A small, 
very short - tailed, 
cinnamon- brown 
wren, with more 
brownish under parts than any other species of ours. In its 
breeding range of the north, it is a very sweet singer ; in other 




Winter Wren 



FAM. V. MOCKING BIRDS, WEENS, ETC. 



69 



localities, it merely gives its hearty quip-quap call notes. It 
lives in the woods, and can be found among the lower growths, 
and on and under old logs and stumps. Its quiet ways and 
dark colors render it difficult to be seen. 




Short-billed Marsh Wren 



tarsus, |; culm en, f. Eastern 
North America ; breeding from the northern United States northward 
(in the Alleghanies from North 
Carolina), and wintering from 
New York and Illinois south- 
ward. 

8. Short-billed Marsh Wren 

(724. Cistothoriis stelttiris). 
— A small, short - billed, 
marsh and meadow-living 
wren, with its whole back, 
including the crown, very 
distinctly streaked length- 
wise with dark and light shades. The under parts are white, 
with buffy sides and breast. This, like many of the wrens, is 

so shy that it is much 
more frequently heard 
than seen. 

Length, 4|; wing, If 
(lf-lf ) ; tail, If ; tarsus, | ; 
culmen, f. The United 
States from the Plains east- 
ward, and north to southern 
Michigan and southern On- 
tario. It winters in the South 
Atlantic and Gulf States. 

9. Long -billed Marsh 
Wren (725. Cistothdrus 
palustris). — A 1 o n g- 
billed, white - bellied 
wren, with a black back, 
Long-billed Marsh Wren striped lengtllwise wit h 

white. The crown is unstreaked, and the wings, tail, and sides 




70 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

are brown. This bird is common in reedy marshes, but because 
of its shy, suspicious habits, needs careful, quiet searching. 
Its grumbling notes can readily be heard, and if it were not 
for its inquisitive nature, which leads it to expose itself for a 
second or two to see its visitor, it would be impossible to 
observe it. 

Length, 5^; wing, 2 (1|-2|); tail, If; tarsus, f; culmen, \. Eastern 
United States north to Ontario; breeding throughout, and wintering (lo- 
cally) from southern New England southward. Worthington's Marsh 
Wren (725 b . C. p. griseus), found along the coasts of South Carolina and 
Georgia, is a lighter colored, more grayish and more faintly barred and 
striped bird. Wing, If; tail, 1* ; bill, i. Marian's Marsh Wren (725-1. 
Cistothbms mariance) of western Florida is a darker bird than the long- 
billed marsh wren, and has the sides and flanks of the same brown as the 
rump. The under tail coverts and sometimes the breast are spotted with 
black. Wing, If; tail, If; bill, h. 

FAMILY VI. WAGTAILS, PIPITS (MOTACiLLID^E) 

A family (80 species) of mainly Old World, ground-living, 
tail-wagging, walking or running birds, represented in our re- 
gion by two species a little larger than the English sparrow. 
They are usually to be found in open pastures, meadows, and 
recently plowed fields. The tail is very long, usually as long 
as the wiugs, and is moved in a peculiar see-saw way, as though 
to enable the bird to balance itself. This habit is also common 
among snipe, though they have short tails. 

The bill is slender, acute, shorter than the head, and notched at tip. 
The inner secondaries are lengthened, about as long as the primaries in 
the closed wing ; feet large, and the hind nail long and nearly straight. 

1. American Pipit (697. Anthns pensilvdnicus). — A common, 
dark-olive-brown-backed, tail-twitching bird, with buffy under 
parts marked on the breast with brownish dots like the 
thrushes. This is a walking bird of the open fields, and in its 
vacillating flight the white outer tail feathers can be seen. 
The pipits are social birds seen in numbers (5-20), more or less 
together while feeding, but usually flying in larger flocks when 
startled. (Titlark; Wagtail.) 



FAM. VI. WAGTAILS, PIPITS 



Length, 6£ ; wing, 3f (3|-3|)j tail, 2| ; tarsus, |; culmen, \. North 
America ; breeding in the subarctic regions and higher mountains and 
wintering in the Gulf 
States to Central Amer- 



2. Sprague's Pipit 

(700. Antlius sprci- 
gueii). — A bird in 
appearance very 
much, like the last, 
but with the colors 
brighter and the 
markings more dis- 
tinct. This species 
has the tarsus 
shorter than the hind toe and claw, while the preceding has it 
as long, sometimes longer. This has a tail always less than 2|, 
the other greater, sometimes 3 long. While the two are so simi- 
lar in form, size, and colors, they are wonderfully different in 
power of song. This is a sky-singing bird, like the skylark 
of Europe. Dr. Coues says : " Xo other bird music heard in 
our land compares with the wonderful strains of this songster ; 
there is something not of earth in the melody, coming from 
above, yet from no visible source; . . . the whole air seems 
filled with the tender strains." (Missouri Skylark.) 

Length, Q\; wing, 3*- (3-3|); tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, i. Interior 




American Pipit 



plains of Xorth America. 
Carolina). 



Once recorded east of the Mississippi (in South 



FAMILY VII. WOOD WARBLERS (MNIOTf LTIDjE) 

A family (100 species) of exclusively American brightly 
colored, small birds of woodlands and thickets. Their habits 
in gathering their insect prey vary greatly; some, like the 
vireos, search carefully for hidden insects, resting or crawling 
on leaf, on bark, or in flower ; others flit from twig to twig, 
gathering the exposed insects, while still others are like the 
flycatchers, capturing most of their prey while on the wing. 



72 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

Most warblers are tree living ; some are only to be found in 
the tops of tall trees, but many live in low bushes, while a 
few are terrestrial. As a whole, the warblers do not deserve 
their name, as their vocal powers are inferior, though a few 
species are remarkable singers. But few species are as large 
as the English sparrow, and only one, the chat, is larger. 
Numbers 1 and 11 are creepers; Nos. 2-10 are icorm eaters; 
these are usually creepers along the smaller twigs ; Nos. 12-28 
are the usual or typical warblers; Nos. 29-35 are ground war- 
blers; Nos. 37-40 are flycatching warblers; while No. 36 is a 
large, heavy-billed, aberrant form placed in this family only 
because it belongs nowhere else. 

Key to the Species 

* Large, over 6| long ; bill rather stout and compressed; 1 under parts 

bright yellow, abruptly changing to white at about the middle of the 
length from chin to tail 36. Yellow-breasted Chat. 

* Bill depressed, broader than high at base, notched and 

slightly hooked at tip ; rictal bristles nearly or quite half 
the length of the bill. 2 (R. ) 

* Bill slender and not depressed ; rictal bristles small 5 or 

none. 3 (A.) 
A. No bright yellow or orange anywhere, at most a slightly 

yellowish tinge. (L. ) 
A. Yellow nearly everywhere ; inner web of under tail 
feathers yellow, outer web dusky ; no white blotches 

on under tail feathers 13. Yellow Warbler. 

A. Whole head and neck bright yellow ; wings ashy, with 
neither white nor yellow wing bars ; inner web of under 
tail feathers mostly white. .2. Prothonotaria Warbler. 
A. Whole head and neck not bright yellow ; under tail feathers blotched 

with white. (E.) 
A. Under tail feathers with no white blotches, but of about the same 

^color on both ribs ; no distinct wing bars. (B.) 

B. Tail and wings of about equal length, each about 2 inches (lf-2£) ; 

back, wings, and tail olive-green 35. Maryland Yellow-throat. 

B. Tail about | inch (f-|) shorter than the wing. (D.) 
B. Tail over \ inch (f-1) shorter than the wing. (C.) 

C. Head, neck, and breast bluish-gray (or in the female and young, 
grayish-brown) ; other upper parts olive-green ; belly yellow ; a 
well-marked white line around the eye. .33. Connecticut Warbler. 



FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 73 

C. A clear yellow line extending from the bill over the eye and curv- 
ing round back of the eye ; under parts bright yellow 

32. Kentucky Warbler. 

C. On account of the very short tail and the yellowish tint to the olive 

of the head, see 10. Tennessee Warbler. 

D. Head, neck, and throat bluish-gray {male) ; head and neck grayish 

(female) ; no white ring around eye ; belly yellow 

34. Mourning Warbler. 

D. Top and sides of head bluish-gray, changing to olive-green on the 
back (or in the female only sides of head brownish-gray) ; breast yel- 
low changing to nearly white on the lower belly 

8. Nashville Warbler. 

D. A large black breast patch surrounded by yellow (male) ; bend of 
wing yellow (female) ; crown black {male) ; grayish (female) ; 

Gulf States, accidental in Virginia 5. Bachman's Warbler. 

E. Bluish-gray above with a golden-green patch in the 

middle of the back ; two white wing bars 4 

11. Parula Warbler. 

E. Kictus without evident bristles (less than ^ long 

if any) ; bill very acute. 3 (K.) 
E. Rictus with evident bristles ; bill usually not veiy acute 
and usually with a slight notch near tip. 5 (F.) 
F. Wing bars or wing patch white. (H.) 
F. Wing bars if present not white (sometimes in the young 5 

yellowish-white). (G.) 
G. Wing bars yellowish and belly yellow (young have the wing bars 
very indistinct) ; back usually spotted with chestnut ; wing, 2i or 

less 28. Prairie Warbler. 

G. Wing bars yellow (yellowish-white in young) ; belly pure white ; 

sides usually with more or less chestnut 

19. Chestnut-sided Warbler. 

G. Wing bars brownish and inconspicuous ; white blotches square and 
on the tips of the under tail feathers ; crown more or less dis- 
tinctly marked with chestnut 27. Palm Warbler. 

G. Wing bars inconspicuous ; whole under parts pale yellow ; back 

ashy without any tint of green or olive ; wing, 2i or more 

25. Kirtland's Warbler. 

H. Rump and crown patch yellow (crown patch somewhat obscure in 

winter) ; sides of breast also generally yellow ; throat white 

15. Myrtle Warbler ; throat yellow 16. Audubon's Warbler. 

H. Rump and belly yellow ; white blotches on the middle of nearly all 

the tail feathers ; crown not yellow, usually clear ash 

17. Magnolia Warbler. 

H. Rump and sides of neck usually yellow ; bill very acute and dis- 
tinctly decurved near the tip 12. Cape May Warbler. 

H. Rump not yellow ; bill not very acute. (I.) 





74 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

I. Throat yellow or orange ; crown with a small or large yellow or 
orange spot ; under tail feathers with outer edge white edged as 

well as white blotches on the inner web 

22. Blackburnian Warbler. 

I. Sides of head bright yellow ; inner web of under tail feathers en- 
tirely white ; outer web white at base 

24. Black-throated Green Warbler. 

I. Upper parts, chin, throat, breast, bill, and feet black ; sides of head 
yellow. In southern Texas the Golden-cheeked Warbler (666. 
Dendroica chrysopdria) can be found. Its habitat extends to Cen- 
tral America. (See p. 87.) 
I. Not as above ; throat more or less yellow. (J. ) 
J. White tail blotches large and oblique near the end of two or three 
under tail feathers ; no sharp markings anywhere . . 26. Pine Warbler. 

J. Throat definitely yellow ; belly white ; back not greenish 

23. Yellow-throated Warbler. 

K. Wings with white wing bars; 1 back bright olive- 
green ; eye with a black line extending across it 

6. Blue-winged Warbler. 

K. Wing coverts yellow, forming a yellow wing patch 

7. Golden-winged Warbler. 

K. A black throat patch surrounded by yellow (male) ; bend of wing 
yellow (female) ; a yellow wing bar formed only of the lesser cov- 
erts 5. Bachman's Warbler. 

K. The supposed hybrids, Brewster's and Lawrence's Warblers might 
be looked for here. They seem in markings and habits interme- 
diate between 6 and 7. Brewster's has the throat and breast white, 
and Lawrence's has a large black patch on the breast. About a 
dozen specimens of Lawrence's have been found, chiefly in New 
Jersey and southern Connecticut, and many of Brewster's from 
southern New England to Michigan. (See p. 79.) No. 10 (Ten- 
nessee Warbler) might also be looked for here, as its tail feathers 
are sometimes marked with white. 
L. Under tail feathers without white blotches ; wings without wing 

bars. (N.) 
L. Under tail feathers blotched with white. (M.) 
M. Body nearly everywhere streaked with black and white, including 

the crown, which has a middle streak of white 

1. Black and White Warbler. 

M. Crown black ; all other parts much streaked with black and white ; 

back with some ashy 21. Black-poll Warbler (male). 

M. Upper parts olive-green more or less streaked with black ; under 
parts more or less yellowish and somewhat streaked on breast and 

sides 21. Black-poll Warbler ( female) . 

M. Under parts, especially the crissum, buffy ; crown and throat usually 
chestnut 20. Bay-breasted Warbler, 



FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 75 

M. Two white wing bars ; 1 entire upper parts sky-blue {male) or dull 
greenish, brightest on the head (female), under parts white (tinged 

with pale yellow in the female) 18. Cerulean Warbler. 

M. Slightly yellowish- white wing bars ; sides with some chestnut mark- 
ings 19. Chestnut-sided Warbler. 

M. Xo wing bars but a white blotch on the primaries near the base 
(very small in female and young) ; upper parts grayish-blue (male) 

or olive-green (female) 14. Black- throated Blue Warbler. 

N. Crown with two black stripes separated by a broader one of buff ; 
two other black stripes back of the eyes ; under parts buffy, un- 
spotted 4. Worm-eating Warbler. 

N. Head brown, a whitish line over eye ; under parts white, grayer on 

sides and not definitely spotted 3. Swainson's Warbler. 

N. Not as above, and the tail f inch or more shorter than the wing. (P.) 
N. Tail not over £ inch shorter than the wing. (0.) 

0. Upper parts somewhat ashy with more or less of an orange-brown 
patch on the crown (except in the young) ; under parts dull, some- 
times with dusky streaks on the breast ; a yellowish or white ring 

around the eye 9. Orange-crowned Warbler. 

0. A small white patch on the base of the primaries, near and partly 
hidden by the coverts ; upper parts olive-green, with a brownish 

tinge on the tail 11. Black-throated Blue Warbler. 

P. Upper parts yellowish-olive ; under parts dull white more or less 
tinged with yellowish but without definite spots ; a whitish line over 

the eye and white under tail coverts 10. Tennessee Warbler. 

P. Conspicuously spotted or streaked below, thrush-like; back brown, 
brownish-olive, or dusky ; head striped, at least a distinct line over 
the eye. (Q.) 

Q. Crown with an orange-brown stripe bordered with black lines 

29. Oven-bird. 

Q. No central stripe on crown, but a whitish to buffy line over the eye ; 
under parts, including the throat, tinged with yellow and very fully 

streaked with black 30. Water Thrush. 

Q. Line over the eye conspicuously white ; under parts slightly buffy 
tinted, and the black streaks do not extend over the throat or mid- 
dle of the belly 31. Louisiana Water Thrush. 

R. Without bright yellow, but with more or less of flame color or dull 

yellow on wings and tail 40. American Redstart. 

R. Breast bright yellow. (S.) 

S. Under tail feathers with white blotches 37. Hooded Warbler. 

S. Under tail feathers without white blotches on the inner webs ; no 
wing bars. (T.) 
T. Above bright olive-green ; crown black without streaks (black cap 

sometimes lacking in female and young) 38. Wilson's Warbler. 

T- Above bluish-ash ; a necklace of black (male) or dusky (female) 
spots across breast 39. Canadian Warbler. 



76 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Black and White Warbler 



1. Black and White Warbler (636. Mniotilta vctria). — A black 
and white streaked warbler, with a broad white . stripe on 

the top of the head 
and no yellow any- 
where. Female with 
some brownish on the 
sides and fewer black 
stripes on the lower 
parts. This is a 
silent bird, common 
in woodlands, creep- 
ing over twigs and 
branches, often hanging from the lower surfaces, hunting in- 
dustriously for insect food. (Black and White Creeper.) 

Length, 5 x r ; wing, 2| (2|-2|) ; tail, 2|- ; tarsus, £ ; culmen, i. Eastern 
North America. Breeds from Virginia north to Hudson Bay, and winters 
from the Gulf States south to northern South America. 

2. Prothonotary Warbler (637. Protonotaria citrea). — Avery 
pretty warbler, with the whole head, neck, upper back, and 
under parts a rich orange. The rest of the upper parts gradu- 
ally change through 
greenish to bluish to 
ashy, and the lower 
parts to almost white 
on the crissum, and 
large white blotches 
on the under tail feath- 
ers. The female has 
the yellow paler. It 
is found most fre- 
quently in the low 
growths near and over 




Prothonotary Warbler 



the water, where it is more like a creeper in its habits than 
like a flycatcher. Its usual notes are clear, penetrating peet, 
tweet, tweet, tweet, given without change of pitch. (Golden- 
headed Warbler.) 



FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 



77 



,_ (2§-3) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, J. Eastern 
United States, north to Virginia and southern Michigan ; south in winter 
to northern South America ; breed- 
ing throughout its United States 
range. 




--■„ 



Swainson's Warbler 



wing, % 



3. Swainson's Warbler (638. 
Helinhia swainsbnii). — A 
brownish warbler, with, whitish 
under parts, inclined to yellow 
on the middle, and grayish on 
the sides. This gronnd warbler 
of the Southern States is a 

beautiful singer of loud, rich, yet tender notes of most pene- 
trating quality. 

Length, 6 ; wing, 2| ; tail, If ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f . Southeastern 
United States, north to southern Virginia and southeastern Missouri, and 
south in winter to central Mexico. 

4. Worm-eating Warbler (639. HelmWierus vermivorus). — An 
olive-green-backed and creamy-bellied warbler, with a buffy 

head, distinctly marked with 
four black lines, two on the 
crown and two through the 
eyes ; no white on back, wings, 
or tail, all being of about the 
same shade of olive-green. A 
rare, shy bird, found usually 
in the dense undergrowth of 
wooded hills and ravines. 




I- 



Worm-eating Warbler 



Length, 5i; wing, 2| (2f-2|) ; 
tail, 2\ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f . Eastern United States north to southern 
New England ; west to Nebraska and Texas ; in winter south to northern 
South America. 

5. Bachman's Warbler (640. Helmintlwphila bachmdnii). — A 
rare, southern warbler, having forehead, throat, and belly yel- 
low, with a large conspicuous patch of black on the breast ; 
the rest of the bird bright olive-green, shading to grayish on the 
wings, and with a white-blotched tail, Female with the yellow 



78 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



of the forehead and the black of the breast not so distinct, 
but with the bend of the wing yellow ; breeding range and 
habits unknown. 



Length 




wing, 2f ; tail, If; culmen, \ nearly. 



Bacbman's Warbler 



South Atlantic States from southern Virginia to 
Florida and Louisiana ; Cuba in winter. 

6. Blue-winged Warbler (641. 
Helmintlidphila pinus). — 
A yellow warbler, 
with slaty-blue wings 
and tail; the yellow 
of the upper parts 
changes to olive- 
green on the rump. 
There is a black line 
through the eye, and 
the wing bars are yellowish. Female with less yellow. This 
is a common, creeper-like warbler, found mainly in the under- 
growth of woods. In its creeping movements it is slow and delib- 
erate, and may occa- 
sionally be seen hang- 
ing head downwards. 
This is more of a 
singer than most of 
the warblers. 



tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; cul- 
men, T \. Eastern United 
States from southern 
New England and south- 
ern Minnesota south- 
ward ; west to Nebraska 
and Texas ; in winter 
south to Central America. 




Blue-winged Warbler 



7. Golden-winged 
Warbler (642. Helmintlidphila chrysdptera). — A warbler with a 
yellow crown, yellow wing coverts, a black patch around and 



FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 



79 




below the eye, and another on the breast, with two conspic- 
uous white stripes, a narrow one above the eye patch and a 
wider one between 
the eye and breast 
patches. Upper parts 
grayish, below white. 
The under tail feath- 
ers blotched with 
white. Female with 
the head less dis- 
tinctly marked, and 

with grayish instead 

_ . , .; . . Golden-winged Warbler 

of black. An msect- 

eating creeper in the lower growths at the borders of woods. 

Length, 5 ; wing, 2\ ; tail, 2 ; culmen, f . Eastern United States north 
to southern New England and southern Minnesota; breeding from its 
northern limit south to New Jersey and Indiana, and in the mountains to 
South Carolina. In winter south to northern South America. The last 
two species are supposed to interbreed and form two named hybrids, 
Brewster's Warbler (H. leucobronchialis) and Lawrence's Warbler (H. 
lawrencei) . The former has broad yellow wing bars and white breast, 
the latter white bars and a black throat patch. Different specimens show 
great variety of plumage, but all are intermediate between Nos. 6 and 7. 
The Key, page 74, gives other facts about these puzzling birds. 

8. Nashville Warbler (645. Helmintlidphila rvficapilla). — 
An olive-green-backed warbler, Avith all the lower parts bright 
yellow, lighter on the belly. The top and sides of the head are 




gray, 



with a more or less concealed 



Nashville Warbler 



chestnut patch on the crown. No 
white bars on wing or white blotches 
on tail. The young are duller and 
have brownish washings on head, 
back, and sides. An inhabitant of 
open woods and fields. 

Length, 4| ; wing, 2| (2^-2i) ; tail, If ; 



tries ; breeding from the northern United States northward, and wintering 
as far south as Central America. 



80 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Tennessee Warbler 



9. Orange-crowned Warbler (646. Helminthdphila cel&ta). — 
A rare warbler, with the whole upper parts nearly uniform 
olive-green except the more or less concealed orange-brown 
crown patch. The lower parts greenish-yellow, with slight dusky 
streaks on the breast. Young lack the crown patch, and are in 
all respects duller birds, but with a white ring around the eye. 

Length, 5 ; wing, 2| (2f-2i) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, f . Eastern North 
America from Mackenzie River south through the Rocky Mountains ; 

wintering in the South 
Atlantic and Gulf States 
and Mexico. Rare north 
of Virginia in the Eastern 
States. 

10. Tennessee War- 
bler (647. Helminthd- 
phila peregrlna). — A 
rare warbler, with 
the lower parts white, 
more or less tinged 
with yellow, and the upper parts bright-olive-green, chang- 
ing abruptly to bluish-gray on the head. No white wing 
bars, but the inner web of the under tail feathers generally 
white at tip. Female has the crown tinged with greenish and the 
under parts more dis- 
tinctly yellowish. The 
breast of this species 
is pale greenish yellow 
with no streaks, and the 
under tail coverts white. 

Length, 4| ; wing, 2§; 
tail, 1| ; culmen, f. East- 
ern North America ; breed- 
ing from northern New 
York to Hudson Bay, and 
wintering from Mexico *to 
northern South America. 

11. Parula Warbler (648. Compsdthlypis americtina). — A 
greenish-yellow-backed, yellow-breasted, grayish-blue warbler, 




Parula Warbler 



FAM. VII. WOOD WAEBLERS 



81 



with, white wing bars and belly. This bird generally has a 
darkish, more or less reddish, band across the breast. The 
greenish-yellow of the back forms a central patch. The female 
sometimes lacks the dark-reddish breast band. (Blue Yellow- 
backed Warbler.) 

Length, 4 J ; wing, 2\ (2±~2|) ; tail, If; culmen, f. United States 
from the Plains eastward, north to Canada ; breeding throughout, and 
wintering from Gulf States south to eastern Mexico and West Indies. 
Sennett's Warbler (649. Compsothlypis nigrilbra), of western Texas, 
southward, is a similar bird, but the parula has a white spot on each 
eyelid, which is lacking in Sennett's warbler ; and in front of the eyes 
(lores) of the parula there is a dusky spot. In Sennett's warbler this 
spot is intensely black, and this black crosses the front of the head just 
above the bill. 

12. Cape May Warbler (650. Dendroica (dr^-cd) tigrhia). — A 
rare but beautiful warbler, with black-streaked, olive-green 
back, chestnut cheeks, black crown, and yellow rump; the 
under parts are yellow, heavily streaked with black, but 
changing to white 
on the crissum. The 
wing coverts form a 
large white patch, 
and the under tail 
feathers have white 
patches near the tips 
on the inner webs. 
The female lacks the 
white wing patch, 
but has a narrow, 
white wing bar ; the 
back is somewhat 
grayish, the rump less yellow, but there is a yellow line over 
the eye. The young female has almost no yellow below. This 
is a warbler of the tree tops. 

Length, 5± j wing, 2f (2§-2|) ; tail, 2; culmen, f. North America 
from the Plains eastward, north to Hudson Bay Territory; breeding 
from northern New England northward, and wintering in the West Indies. 
apgar's birds. — 6 




#ii 



Cape May Warbler 



82 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Yellow Warbler 



13. Yellow Warbler (652. Dendroica cestiva). — This is the 
yellow warbler in fact as well as name, having some shade of 

yellow throughout, 
and forming our 
only canary-colored 
wild bird. The un- 
der parts are some- 
what streaked with 
reddish, and the un- 
der tail feathers are 
yellow on the in- 
ner webs and dusky 
on the outer. The 
female is less bright- 
ly yellow, and the 
under parts are less streaked. This is a common inhabitant of 
our gardens and orchards, and is often thought to be an 
escaped canary ; its slender bill shows that it is a different 
species. (Summer Yellow-bird ; Golden Warbler.) 

Length, 5 ; wing, 2\ (2|— 2f ) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, f. North America 
throughout, except the southwest ; breeding in nearly its whole range, 
and wintering south to 
northern South America. 

14. Black - throated 
Blue Warbler (654. 
Dendroica ccerules- 
cens). — A common, 
grayish -blue -backed, 
white-bellied warbler, 
with black sides of 
head and throat, and 
irregular patches of 
black along the sides 
of the body. The 
bases of the primaries form a white patch on the wings. The 
female has the upper parts olive-green and the lower parts 




Black-throated Blue Warbler 




FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 83 

yellowish, and in the main lacks the black throat, while the 
white wing patch is mnch reduced. 

Length, 5^ ; wing, '2\ ; tail, 2| ; culmen, T \. North America from the 
Plains eastward; breeding from northern New York northward (in the 
Alleghanies south to Georgia), and wintering in the tropics. 

15. Myrtle Warbler (655. Dendroica corondta). — A com- 
mon, large, streaked, bluish- and 
black-backed warbler, with distinct 
patches of yellow on crown, rump, 
and sides of breast, and a white 
throat and lower belly. There are 
two white wing bars, white blotches 
on the under tail feathers, and 
heavy black marks on the breast. 
The female has browner upper parts, 
and fewer black marks on the yr 

breast. The yellow on the crown and sides of the breast are 
much reduced in young and winter birds. (Yellow-rumped 
Warbler.) 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2| (2|-3) ; tail, 2\ ; culmen, J. North America, 
but rare west of the Rocky Mountains ; breeding from northern United 
States northward, and wintering from southern New England and the 
Ohio Valley, southward to Central America. 

16. Audubon's Warbler (656. Dendroica duduboni). — A west- 
ern warbler similar to the last, but with yellow on the throat 
instead of the white of that species. The wing bars blend 
together into a wing patch. 

Length, 5| ; wing, 3 (2f-3^) ; tail, 2i ; culmen, f . Western United 
States eastward to the western borders of the Plains ; accidental in Penn- 
sylvania and Massachusetts. 

17. Magnolia Warbler (657. Dendroica maculdsa). — A gray- 
crowned, black-backed, yellow-rumped warbler, with the breast 
and throat yellow; heavily streaked on the breast and sides 
with black. The wing coverts form a large white patch ; the 
middle of the under tail feathers is white, and the end third 



84 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Magnolia Warbler 



black. Female similar, but duller. Both the female and young 
have the white tail blotches on the middle of the feathers. 

(Black and Yellow 
Warbler.) 

Length, 5; wing, 2f 

(2\-2\) ; tail, 2 ; culraen, 
§. North America from 
the Rocky Mountains 
eastward ; breeding from 
northern New York 
northward (southward in 
the mountains to Penn- 
sylvania), and wintering 
south of the United States 
to Central America. 

18. Cerulean Warbler (658. Dendrolca ccerhlea). — A warbler 
with bright blue upper parts, white lower parts, and many 
black streaks on the sides ; wing bars and much of the under 
tail feathers white. Female with greenish tint to the back 
and yellowish tint to the belly. It lives in the tops of the 
forest trees. Its song is very much like, that of the parula 
warbler. 

Length, 4| ; wing, 2*- (2f-2f) ; tail, 1J; culmen, f. Eastern United 
States and southern Ontario west to the Plains ; rare east of the Alle- 
ghanies ; in winter, south 
to northern South America. 

19. Chestnut-sided 
Warbler (659. Dendro- 
1 ca pensylvdnica) . — A 
chestnut-sided, yellow- 
crowned warbler, with 
mottled black and olive 
back and white under 
parts ; wing bars yel- 
lowish and cheeks 
white, outlined with 
black. Female similar, but duller; the young has the back 
somewhat streaked with black on a ground that is yellowish- 




Cerulean Warbler 



FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 



85 




Chestnut-sided Warbler 



olive, and the under parts silky-white ; the sides are sometimes 
blotched with chestnut ; an inhabitant of bushy borders. 

Length, 5 ; wing, 21 
(2f-2f); tail, 2; oil- 
men, f. Eastern United 
States from the Plains, 
including southern Onta- 
rio ; breeding from north- 
ern New Jersey and cen- 
tral Illinois northward i 
(southward to Georgia in 
the mountains), and win- 
tering in the tropics. 

20. Bay-breasted 
Warbler (660. Den- 
drolca castanea). — A 
brownish-ashy-backed warbler, with chestnut crown and brown- 
ish breast and sides ; forehead and cheeks black ; wing bars 
and belly white; the under tail feathers have the white 
patches at their tips. Female with the crown somewhat olive, 
the under parts not so white, and less rufous on the breast and 
sides. This is a beautiful warbler, living in its summer home, 
among the tree tops. (Autumn Warbler.) 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2} (2§-3) ; tail, 2i ; culmen, f. Eastern North 
America from Hudson Bay southward ; breeding from northern New 

England and northern 
Michigan northward, and 
wintering in Mexico and 
Central America. 

21. Black-poll War- 
bler (661. Dendrolca 
striclta), — A common, 
very much streaked, 
mainly black and 
white warbler, with 
The male has grayish and 




Bay-breasted Warbler 



distinct black cap and white cheeks 

the female olive-green tints on the back, including the crown, 

thus obliterating the black cap. The female is less distinctly 



86 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



streaked. The young is even less streaked than the female, 

has greenish-yellow tinting on the under parts, and almost no 

markings. It is found in orchards, gardens, 

and open, especially evergreen woods. 

Length, b\ ; wing, 2| ; tail, 2± ; culmen, f. North 
America from the Rocky Mountains eastward ; 
breeding from northern New England northward, 
and wintering south to northern South America. 




Black-poll Warbler 




Blackburnian Warbler 



22. Blackburnian Warbler (662. Dendroica 
bldckburnice). — A warbler, with orange-col- 
ored throat, breast, and center of crown, black upper parts 
mottled with lighter, and white belly; wing coverts and un- 
der tail feathers with 
much white. The 
back of the female 
is brownish - olive, 
streaked with black ; 
the orange of the male 
is replaced by yellow, 
and the white of the 
wing coverts forms 
two wing bars. The young has the crown patch nearly absent. 
It lives mainly in the upper branches of evergreens. (Orange- 
throated Warbler ; Hemlock Warbler.) 

Length, 5]-; wing, 2| (2J-2J) ; tail, 2; culmen, |. North America 
from eastern Kansas eastward ; breeding from Massachusetts and Michi- 
gan northward (farther 
south in the mountains), 
and wintering south to 
Peru. 

23. Yellow-throated 
Warbler (663. Dendro- 
ica dominicd). — A 

yellow-throated, gray- 
backed, white-bellied 
warbler, with black 
Yellow-throated Warbler cheeks ; white wing 




FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 



87 



bars distinct, and white blotches near the tips of the under 
tail feathers. A southern warbler, with some of the habits of 
a "creeper " among the tree tops. 



Lenslh, 



2| (23-2!) ; tail, 2\ 



Southern United 



States ; breeding from Virginia southward, and wintering from Florida 
southward ; accidental in New York and Massachusetts. The Sycamore 
Warbler (G63 a . D. d. albilord) is a variety very much like the yellow- 
throated, but that species has a yellow line in front of the eye and a white 
line over it, while the sycamore has the line in front of the eye white. 

24. Black-throated Green Warbler (667. Dendroica virens). — 
A common, olive-green-backed, black-breasted warbler, with 
whitish belly and yellow sides of head. Two white wing bars 
and the under tail feathers with much white, including the base 
of the outer web; black streaks on the sides. Female with 
much less of black on throat and breast, and some yellowish. 
The young may entirely lack black on the throat. During the 
breeding season, its home is in the tops of coniferous trees ; 
when migrating it can be found in the growths anywhere. 

Length, 5; wing, 2.L (2i-2|) ; tail, 2; culmen, |. Eastern North 
America from the Plains ; "breeding from Connecticut and Illinois north 
to Hudson Bay (in the mountains south to South Carolina), and winter- 
ing south to Central America. The Golden- cheeked Warbler (666. Den- 
droica chrysoparia), a species found in southern Texas, has black upper 
parts, yellow sides of the head and neck, yellowish-white belly, black 
chin, throat, and breast, 
and black streaking on the 
side of the body. There 
are two white wing bars 
and a black stripe through 
the eye and extending 
some distance back of it. 
The tail has large white 
patches. This bird is much 
like No. 24, and probably 
the female varies as in that 
species. 

25. Kirtland's War- 
vi /am Tk j * > Kirtland's Warbler 
bier (6<0. Dendroica 

kirtlandi). — An extensively black-spotted warbler with brown- 
ish-ashy back, bluish-gray head, and light yellow under parts. 




88 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



The sides, breast, and back are the most fully spotted ; the 
space in front of the eye and the sides of the throat are almost 
wholly black. There are no white wing bars, but the under 
tail feathers have white blotches near their tips. This is one 
of the rarest of the warblers. 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2| (2f-2£) ; tail, 2^; culm en, |. Breeding home 
unknown ; migrates through the Mississippi Valley and the southeastern 
United States. 

26. Pine Warbler (671. Dendroica vigdrsii). — A bright olive- 
green-backed warbler, with the under parts bright yellow 

except near the tail, 
where the yellow is 
gradually changed to 
white. Sometimes 
there is a touch of ashy 
color both on the back 
and on the belly. The 
wing bars are whitish, 
the under tail feathers 
have white blotches 
near their tips, and 
the sides are some- 
times streaked with 
black. Female similar 
but less bright, the 
upper parts somewhat 
brownish, and the 
lower parts yellow 
only on the breast. As its- name indicates, it is nearly always 
to be found among the pines ; in summer up in the trees ; in 
winter mainly on the ground. 

Length, 5^ (5-5|) ; wing, 2| (2|-3) ; tail, fy ; culmen, |. United 
States from the Plains eastward, north to New Brunswick ; wintering in 
the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 

27. Palm Warbler (672. Dendroica jxrfmarum). — A warbler, 
with the upper parts grayish-brown, the lower parts yellow. 




Pine Warbler 




FAM. VII. WOOD WAB BLEBS 89 

The sides are streaked with chestnut, and the crown has a 
chestnut patch, very distinct in the breeding season. In printer 
the crown patch is rendered more or less in- 
distinct by brownish tips to the feathers. 
In summer there is a yellow line over 
the eye : in winter this is white, 
and a ring around the eye is 
also white. The under parts 
in winter are rather yel- 
lowish than yellow. 
This is the Palm War- 
bler of the Mississippi 
Vallev : in winter in 
the South Atlantic and Palm Warbler 

Gulf States : occasionally seen in other localities (Red-poll 
Warbler). Yellow Palm Warbler i(372 a . D. p. hypochryseeC). — A 
warbler, with the upper parts dark olive-green, the lower parts 
entirely bright yellow, the crown chestnut, and the sides 
streaked with chestnut : over and around the eye there is a 
yellow line. There are no white wing bars, but the under tail 
feathers have white blotches near their tips. In winter the 
chestnut crown is partly concealed by brownish. The yellow 
of the under parts of this variety is much the brighter and 
more uniform. (The Palm "Warbler always shows whitish on 
the belly.) This is an active warbler of the open field rather 
than of the woods, and in winter in the south it is a common 
town and village bird. It has a tail-wagging habit which is 
very characteristic. (Yellow Red-poll.) 

Length. 5| ; wing, 2| (2|-2f) ; tail. 21 ; tarsus. | ; culinen. 4- Atlan- 
tic States ; breeding from eastern Maine to Hudson Bay, and wintering in 
the South Atlantic and Gulf States. (The Palm Warbler is found north 
to Great Slave Lake, and winters south to Mexico.) 

28. Prairie Warbler (673. Dendroica discolor). — A small 
olive-green-backed warbler with the under parts bright yellow, 
streaked with black on the sides. The center of the back is 
marked in the adult with a brownish patch, and the under tail 



90 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




feathers have large white patches at their tips, even the outer 
webs having white at their bases. There is a yellow line over 
the eye, and a black crescent-shaped mark under 
the eye. The female sometimes lacks the 
brown patch of the back, and the young 
usually has the whole upper parts 
ashy in shade. A shy inhabitant 
of bushy fields and pastures. 

Length, 4f ; wing, 2| ; tail, 2 ; 
culmen, \. United States 
from the Plains eastward ; 
breeding from Florida 
north to Michigan and 
southern New England, 
and wintering from Flor- 
ida to the West Indies. 
Prairie Warbler 

29. Oven-bird (674. 
Seiarus aurocapillus). — A rather small, thrush-like, olive-green- 
backed bird, with white under parts, spotted Avith black on the 
breast and sides ; the crown is marked with brownish-orange, 
bordered with black stripes ; wings and tail unmarked. This is 
a walking, tail-wagging bird, found mainly in wooded ground, 
except in early spring, when 
it may often be seen in the 
shrubbery and gardens loudly 
singing its notes, which seem 
to say teacher, teacher, 
TEACHEE. (Golden-crowned 
"Thrush.") 

Length, 6\; wing, 3 (2f-8$); 
tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. 
Eastern North America ; breeding 
from Kansas and Virginia north- 
ward, and wintering from Florida 
south to Central America. 




Oven-bird 



30. Water-Thrush (675. Seiiirus noveboracensis). — A small, 
olive-backed, thrush-like bird, with the under parts yellowish, 



FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 



91 




Water-Thrush 



streaked everywhere with, black. Over the eye there is a dis- 
tinct buffy line. This is a walking, tail-wagging bird, like the 
last, but as its name indicates, it prefers localities near the 
water, though it is sometimes found in dry places. It is not 
a shy bird. (Water Wagtail.) 

Length, 5| ; wing, 3 (2f-3i); tail, 2\ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, \. Illinois 
and eastward ; breeding from northern Illinois and northern New England 
northward, and wintering 
from the Gulf States to 
northern South America. 
GrinnelPs Water-Thrush 
(675 a . 8. n. notabilis) is 
very much like the last, 
but larger, on the average, 
and with the upper parts 
darker and the under 
parts whiter. This is the 
western variety, and is 
found from Illinois to 
California north into Brit- 
ish America, and winter- 
ing from the Gulf States to South America. During migrations it has 
been found in Virginia and even in New Jersey. 

31. Louisiana Water-Thrush (676. Seiurus motacilld). — This 
bird is much like No. 30, but the streakings on the lower parts 
do not include the throat and middle of belly, the line over the 
eye is white and conspicuous, and the under parts are tinged 
with buff color rather than yellow. This is a much shyer bird, 
more fond of the water, and a noted songster, sometimes sing- 
ing while on the wing. (Larger-billed Water-Thrush.) 

Length, Q\; wing, 2>\ (3-3i); tail, 2i ; tarsus, nearly 1; culmen, \+. 
United States from the Plains eastward, north to central New England ; 
wintering south of the United States to Central America. 

32. Kentucky Warbler (677. Gedthlypis formbsa). — An olive- 
green-backed warbler, with all the lower parts and a line over 
the eye bright yellow. The crown, and a blotch under the eye, 
extending along the side of the throat, are black. There are no 
wing bars or tail patches. The female has the dark sections 
more grayish. It is an inhabitant of dense, especially wet, 



92 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




woods, and may be found on the lower growths or icalking on 
the ground. It is a loud, clear singer. 

Length, 5|; wing, 2| (2|-3); tail, 2; tarsus, |; culrnen, f. United 
States, from the Plains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf States to south-' 

em Michigan, and wintering south of 
the United States to Central America. 

33. Connecticut Warbler (678. 
Gedthlypis dgilis). — An olive- 
green-backed, yellow-bellied war- 
bler, with much bluish-gray on 
the head, neck, and breast. The 
wings and tail are almost the 
exact tint of the back, and have 

no bars or blotches, but there is 
Kentucky Warbler ft wMte ring round the eyQ The 

female has the crown the same as the back, and the throat and 
breast grayish-brown. This active, sprightly bird is a migrant 
over most of the eastern United States, and is usually found 
near the ground in low shrubbery. 

Lengthy 5|; wing, 2} (2§-3); tail, 2; tarsus, f; culrnen, |. Eastern 
North America ; breeding north of the United States, and wintering south 
of it to northern South America. 

34. Mourning Warbler (679. Gedthlypis Philadelphia). — A 
warbler, with bluish-gray head, olive-green upper parts, and 
yellow belly. The 
bluish - gray changes 
to black on the breast, 
and the wings and tail 
are unmarked. The 
female has a head 
only slightly grayer 
than the back, and the 
breast is also only "~ * — * 

. . _. . . Mourning Warbler 

grayish. This shy 

bird lives mainly in the low bushes, and receives its com- 
mon name from the appearance of crape on the head. It 




FAM. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 



93 



frequently perches on low limbs and sings its clear, whist- 
ling notes. 



Length, 5| ; wing, 2\ (2i-2|); tail, 2 ; tarsus, 



cuhnen, 



North 



America, from the Plains eastward ; breeding from the mountains of Penn- 
sylvania and northern Michigan northward, and wintering south of the 
United States to northern South America. 

35. Maryland Yellow-throat (681. Gedthlypis trichas). — A 

bright, yellows-breasted, olive-green-backed w r arbler, Avith a 
peculiar, distinctly out- 
lined, black mask across 
the forehead and over 
the cheeks ; v r ings and 
tail short and unmarked. 
Female with less distinct 
mask, and sometimes 
none. This is a com- 
mon, b u s h - 1 i v i n g, 
sprightly bird, which 
chirps and sings through- 
out the summer. 

Length, 5 ; wing, 2| (1|- 
2\); tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; cul- 
men, f. Eastern United 
States ; breeding from Geor- 
gia to southern Labrador, and wintering in the South Atlantic States to 
Central America (even as far north as Massachusetts). The Florida 
Yellow-throat (681 b . G. t. ignbta) has the under parts a deeper yellow, 
the upper parts browner, and the black mask larger. Florida and Georgia. 
The Western Yellow-throat (681 a . G. t. occidentalis) is a larger and 
brighter colored bird, the bright yellow of the breast extending almost 
to the anal regions, and the black mask bordered behind by a grayish 
white band. The wings and tail are each about 2\ long. From the 
Mississippi Valley to the Pacific coast. 

36. Yellow-breasted Chat (683. Icth'ia virens). — A large, 
bright-yellow-breasted, white-bellied, olive-green-backed bird, 
w r ith a white line over the eye, no wing bars, and a stout 
bill. This is a bright-colored, noisy dweller of bushy thickets, 
much more readily heard than seen. Its notes are indescrib- 




Maryland Yellow-throat 



94 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



able in their taunting, mocking, and ventriloquistic qualities. 
When disturbed in its medley, it merely repeats the complain- 
ing call notes of chut chut. 

Length, 1\\ wing, 3 (2§- 
3£) ; tail, 3^ ; culnien, \. 
United States from the Plains 
eastward ; breeding north to 
Ontario, and wintering south 
to Central America. 

37. Hooded Warbler 

(684. Sylv&nia mitrclta). — 
A beautiful, black-hooded, 
olive - green - backed, yel- 
low-bellied, fly catching 
warbler with yellow r fore- 
head and cheeks, and al- 
most completely white 
under tail feathers. The 
hood is made up of a cro'wii 
piece connected on the sides of the neck with a large throat 
patch. The female has a less distinctly outlined hood. This 
is a restless bird, gen- 
erally found among 
the lower trees or 
higher shrubs of 
dense wet woods. It 




Yellow-breasted Chat 



Length, 



wing, 2f 




Hooded Warbler 



(2f-2£); tail, 21; cul- 

men, f. United States 

from the Plains eastward ; 

breeding from the Gulf 

of Mexico northward to 

southern New England and southern Michigan, and wintering south of 

the United States to Central America. 

38. Wilson's Warbler (685. Sylvhnia pusiUa). — A yellow- 
faced, bright olive-green-backed, yellow-bellied, fly catching war- 



FA3I. VII. WOOD WARBLERS 



95 



bier with a distinct black cap, but no wing bars or tail blotches. 
Female similar, but usually lacks the black cap. It is gener- 
ally to be found among low 
bushes near the water, and 
acts much like the true fly- 
catchers in its habit of dart- 
ing in and out by short 
nights, in search of its insect 
prey. The flycatchers proper 
almost invariably return to 
the same twigs from which 
they darted; the warbling 
flycatchers do not. (Green 
Black-capped Warbler.) 




Length, A.\ 



wing, 

i 



Wilson's Warbler 



(2-2|); 

tail, 2 ; culm en, \ + . North 

Amei'ica from the Rocky Mountains eastward ; breeding mainly north of 

the United States, and wintering south to Central America. 

39. Canadian Warbler (686. Sylvania canadensis). — A gray- 
backed, flycatching warbler with all the lower parts yellow, 
except a necklace of black spots across the breast, and white 
under tail coverts. It is without either wing, bars or tail 
blotches, but has spots of black on the crown, black sides of 

neck, and a yellow spot in 
front of the eye. Female lacks 
the black of the head, and the 
necklace is made up of dusky 
spots. It is generally to be 
found in the same localities as 
No. 38 and has about the same 
habits. It is a loud but sweet 
singer. 

Canadian Warbler Length, 5i ; wing, 2f ; tail, 2\ ; 

culmen, f. North America, from 
the Plains eastward ; breeding from northern New York northward (far- 
ther south in the mountains), and wintering south of the United States to 
northern South America. 




96 



KEY AND DESCBIPTION 



40. American Redstart (687. Setdphaga rutidlla). — A small, 
very lively, dark-colored, brilliantly-marked, flycatching war- 
bler, with bright or- 
ange or flame color at 
base of tail, middle of 
wings, and under the 
wings. The belly is 
nearly white, the bill is 
very broad, and the ric- 
tal bristles fnlly half 
as long as the bill. The 
female is a brownish- 
gray bird with dull- 
yellow markings re- 
placing the orange of 
the male. This is one 
of the most beautiful and active of the warblers, and is to be 
found abundantly in most woodlands and shrubberies. 

Length, 5} (4|-5|)j wing, 2£ (2f-2f); tail, 2§ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. 
North America, west casually to California ; breeding from North Carolina 
and Kansas north to Labrador, and wintering south of the United States 
to South America. 




American Redstart 



FAMILY VIII. VIREOS (VIREONID^E) 

A family (50 species) of exclusively American, small, olive- 
backed birds of woods and thickets, with narrow, stout, notched 
and hooked bills. 1 Our largest species is about the size of the 
English sparrow. The vireos are insect-eating birds, but un- 
like many warblers and all the true flycatchers, they gather 
their prey while perching. With rather slow movements they 
patiently search over and under leaves, on twigs and bark, for 
spiders, beetles, caterpillars, etc. All our species are good 
singers, and some are noted for their vocal powers. Dr. Coues 
thus speaks of them : " Next after the warblers, the greenlets 
[vireos] are the most delightful of our forest birds, though 
their charms address the ear and not the eye. ... In the 



FAM. VIII. VIREOS 97 

quaint and curious ditty of the white-eye, in the earnest, vol- 
uble strains of the red-eye, in the tender secret that the war- 
bling vireo confides in whispers to the passing breeze — he is 
insensible who does not hear the echo of thoughts he never 
clothes in words." They build beautiful basket-like nests, 
which are suspended from forked twigs, sometimes near the 
ground and sometimes from the highest parts of forest trees. 
The vireos are usually to be found on trees or bushes, very 
rarely on the ground. Any of the common names given can 
end in Greenlet as well as Vireo. 

Key to the Species 

* Eather stout species with distinct white or whitish wing bars. 2 (C.) 

* Rather slender species with no distinct wing bars. (A.) 

A. The first primary less than one inch long ; 3 under parts white with 
yellowish on the sides (if there is almost no yellowish on sides, 
look for 2. Red-eyed Vireo, as it has been found with a short first 

primary) 5. Warbling Vireo. 

A. The first primary much over one inch long. (B. ) 
B. Under parts yellowish, brightest on the breast ; crown ashy, without a 
bordering black line over the whitish eye line. 4. Philadelphia Vireo. 
B. Under parts mainly white with almost no yellowish ; crown ashy- 
gray margined with blackish just above the white line over the eye. 

2. Red-eyed Vireo. 

(or 1. Black-whiskered Vireo, if in Florida, and if there is a dusky 
streak on the side of the throat. ) 
B. Sides bright olive-yellow, and the under tail coverts clear sulphur- 
yellow (Texas) 3. Yellow-green Vireo. 

C. First primary nearly as long as the second ; breast bright yellow 

6. Yellow-throated Vireo. 

C. First primary less than one inch long. 3 (D.)* 
D. Top and sides of head grayish-blue, with a distinct white line around 

the eye 7. Blue-headed Vireo. 

D. Crown olive, much like the back ; a distinct yellow line over the eye. 

9. White-eyed Vireo. 

D. Crown ashy ; a distinct white line around the eye (Western) 

10. Bell's Vireo. 

D. Crown and sides of head black (Kansas to Texas) 

8. Black-capped Vireo. 



l 
apgar's birds. 




98 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



1. Black-whiskered Vireo (623. Vireo calldris barbdtulus). — 
A species found in southern Florida, West Indies, and south in 
winter to Central America. It is very much like the next 
species, but has a narrow dusky streak extending from the bill, 
below the eyes, along the side of the throat. 

Length, 5| ; wing, 3i (3-3£) ; tail, 2| ; culmen, f . 

2. Red-eyed Vireo (624. Vireo olivclceus). — A very common, 
small, olive-green-backed, white-bellied vireo, with a black-mar- 
gined slaty-gray crown, white line over the eye, and no wing- 
bars. The dark border to the crown gives emphasis to the 

white line over its 
red eye. This com- 
mon inhabitant of 
trees has been called 
the preacher, because 
of its tireless singing. 
In the words of Wil- 
son Flagg, "We might 
suppose him to be re- 
peating moderately, 
with a pause between 
each sentence, ' You see it — you know it — do you hear me ? 
— do you believe it ? ' All these strains are delivered with 
the rising inflection at the close, and with a pause, as if wait- 
ing for an answer." 

Length, 6| ; wing, 3*- (3-3|) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, £ ; culmen, f. North 
America, from Utah eastward ; breeding from the Gulf States to Hudson 
Bay, and wintering from Florida to South America. 

3. Yellow-green Vireo (625. Vireo Jlavoviridis). — A vireo of 
western Texas and southward to Peru ; very much like the last 
species, but with the under parts, especially the sides, flanks, 
and under tail coverts, much more brightly yellow. 

Length, Q\ ; wing, 3 (2f-3^) ; tail, 1\ ; culmen, f . 

4. Philadelphia Vireo (626. Vireo philadelphicus). — A small, 
light, olive-green-backed, grayish-crowned vireo with all under 




Red-eyed Vireo 



FA 31. VIII. VIREOS 



99 



parts light greenish-yellow and a whitish line over the eye. 
There are no wing bars. This is a smaller and rarer bird than 
No. 2, but with similar habits and song. 

Length, 5 ; wing, 2| (2i-2f) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f . Eastern 
North America ; breeding from New Hampshire north to Hudson Bay, 
and wintering south of the United States to Central America. 

5. Warbling Vireo (627. Vireo gilvus). — An olive-green- 
backed, white- or whitish-bellied vireo, without wing bars and 
with some yellowish on the sides. This, as its name indicates, 
is a good, continuous " warbler " of rich notes. It lives mainly 
among the tops of tall trees, so that it can be heard more 
easily than seen. 

Length, 5f ; wing, 2f- (2|-3) ; tail, 2\; tarsus, |; culmen, ^. North 
America in general ; breeding nearly throughout, and wintering in eastern 
Mexico. 

6. Yellow-throated Vireo (628. Vireo fl&vifrons). — An olive- 
green-backed, bright-yellow-breasted, white-bellied vireo, with 
two distinct white wing 
bars. It is an inhabi- 
tant of the tree tops. 
Its notes are deep, rich, 
and varied, and occa- 
sionally *it shows a 
power of song which 
is surprising in its 
fine and intricate qual- 
ity. The bird looks in 
color much like the yellow-breasted chat, though decidedly 
smaller. 

Length, 6f ; wing, S\ (3-3^); tail, 2i; tarsus, f; culmen, f. Eastern 
United States ; breeding from Florida north to Ontario, and wintering 
from Mexico to Central America. 

7. Blue-headed Vireo (629. Vireo solit&rius). — An olive-green- 
backed, bluish-headed vireo, with the lower parts, ring around 
eye, and two wing bars white. It is, like the vireos in general, 
an inhabitant of the woods and a fine singer. (Solitary Vireo.) 




Yellow-throated Vireo 



100 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, b\\ wing, 2 J (2|-3); tail, 2\ ; tarsus, f; culmen, f. North 
America, from the Plains eastward ; breeding from New England to Hud- 
son Bay, and wintering in Mexico to Central America. The Mountain 

Solitary Vireo (629 c . V. 
s. alticola), of the higher 
southern Alleghanies, 
is a similar bird but 
larger, and with the en- 
tire upper parts a nearly 
uniform dark lead-color 
with almost no tinge of 
green. Wing, 3£ (3-31) ; 
tail, 2\. 




Blue-headed Vireo 



8. Black-capped Vi- 
reo (630. Vireo atri- 
capillus). — A small, 

rare, Texan, black-headecl, olive-green-backed, white-bellied 

vireo, with olive-shaded sides. 



Length, 4|; wing, 2\ ; tail, 2; tarsus, §; 
western Texas, north to southwestern Kansas. 



culmen, 



Central and 



9. White-eyed Vireo (631. Vireo noveboracensis). — A small, 
olive-green-backed, w r hite-bellied vireo, with much yellowish on 
wings, tail, and sides 
of head, including two 
distinct wing bars. A 
ring around the eye, 
and line from eye to 
bill yellow. This is 
a saucy inhabitant 
of underbrush, with 
mocking bird powers, 
which it uses in in- 
tricate " medleys " of 
bird notes. 




White-eyed Vireo 



Length, 5 ; wing, 2| ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; culmen, i. United States 
from the Rocky Mountains eastward ; breeding north to southern New 
England and Minnesota, and wintering from Florida as far south as 
Central America. 



FAM. IX. SHRIKES 101 

10. Bell's Vireo (633. Vireo bellii). — A stout, western, thicket- 
living, olive-green-backed, yellow-sided vireo, with the ring 
around the eye, and line from eye to bill white or nearly so. The 
belly is white, and the crown ashy-gray, gradually changing to 
a bright olive-green on the rump. This is a smaller bird than 
the last. 

Length, 4f ; wing, 2£ (2-2 £) ; tail, If-; tarsus, f ; culnien, f. Great 
Plains, to the upper Mississippi Valley, eastward to western Indiana, and 
southwestward to Mexico. 

FAMILY IX. SHRIKES (LANllDJE) 

A family (200 species) of mainly Old World birds, repre- 
sented in America by two species of large-headed, strong- 
bodied gray birds, with black wings and tail, and white belly. 
Their size is not much less than that of our robin. 
The hawk-like bill 1 enables them to capture their ^3v o 
prey, which consists of mice, small birds, insects, ^^\ 
etc. Their greatest peculiarity is the habit of 
impaling their food upon thorns, the barbs of wire fences, etc. 
In watching for their prey, the shrikes almost always occupy 
the outside twigs of bushes or trees or other exposed situations. 
When an insect, a small bird, a mammal, or a reptile is seen, 
they will dart through a distance of many feet and secure it. 

Key to the Species 

* Breast generally with distinct wavy cross lines ; black on the sides of 

the head not connected by a black line on the forehead 

1. Northern Shrike. 

* Breast usually with no distinct wavy cross lines ; black on the sides of 

the head connected by a black line across the forehead 

2. Loggerhead Shrike. 

1. Northern Shrike (621. Lctnius boredlis). — A gray-backed, 
white-bellied bird, with black wings and tail. There are black 
blotches on the side of the head, which are not joined together 
by a black line across the forehead, and narrow wavy bars 
across the breast. It is a low-flying bird, with a peculiarly 
straight course till it is ready to alight, when it makes a short 



102 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Northern Shrike 



upward turn and perches on the outside twigs of the tree or 

bush. It may be distinguished by the terror it causes among 

the small birds in its vicinity. (Butcher-bird.) 

Length, 10; wing, 4| (4|-4|); tail, 4§ ; tarsus, 1; 
culmen, f. Northern North America ; breeding 
north of the United States, and wintering in the 
Middle States. 

2. Loggerhead Shrike (622. Lclnius lu- 
doviciclnus). — A bird similar to the 
last, but with more black on the 
sides of the head, connected 
across the forehead by 
a narrow black stripe. 
There are fewer wavy 
lines, or almost none, 
across the breast. Both 
these species are noted 
for the habit of impaling their prey — grasshopper, lizard, 
snake, or bird — on thorns. Both of these birds sing in the 
springtime. The notes of northern shrike are very musical, 
and resemble some- 
what those of the cat- 
bird, but those of the 
loggerhead are too 
harsh to be pleasant. 

Length, 9 ; wing, 3| 
(3|-4); tail, 4; tarsus, 
1 ; culmen, i. United 
States, from the Plains 
eastward, and north to 
northern New England ; 
breeding from the Gulf 
States north to southern Loggerhead Shrike 

New Jersey and the 

Great Lakes. The White-rumped Shrike (622 a . L. I. excubitorides) , a 
variety found from the Plains to the Pacific, has, as its name indicates, 
the upper tail coverts more or less distinctly whitish. 




FAM. X. WAX WINGS. 



103 



FAMILY X. WAXWINGS (AMPELID.E) 

This very small family of birds includes two of our crested, 
smooth-plumaged, rich grayish-brown species, with short, 
square, yellow-tipped tails and long wings. The waxwings 
practically have no song, and their notes are so quietly uttered 
as to be by many unnoticed. The name " waxwing" is derived 
from the fact that the secondary wing quills, and sometimes the 
tail feathers, are tipped with horny appendages resembling red 
sealing wax. 

Key to the Species 

* Under tail coverts chestnut ; wing bar white. .1. Bohemian Waxwing. 

* Under tail coverts white ; no wing bar 2. Cedar Waxwing. 

1. Bohemian Waxwing (618. Ampelis gdrrulus). — A rare, 
distinctly crested, rich brown-backed, grayish-bellied bird, with 
the under tail coverts 
chestnut and the tail 
feathers tipped with 
yellow; having a 
white wing bar, white 
tips to the secondary 
quills, and a brown- 
ish breast. The fore- 
head, chin, and line 
through the eye are 
black. (X o r t h e r n 
Waxwing.) 




Bohemian "Waxwing 



Length, 8 ; wing, 4i (4§-4§) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, j\. North- 
ern parts of the northern hemisphere ; breeding north of the United 
States, and wintering rarely south to Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Kansas. 

2. Cedar Waxwing (619. Ampelis cedrdrum). — A common, 
distinctly crested, rich brown-backed, yellowish-bellied wax- 
wing, with the under tail coverts white, and all the tail feathers 
tipped with yellow. There is no wing bar. The breast is like 
the back and the forehead ; the chin and the line over the eye 
are black. These smooth-plumaged birds move, excepting in the 



104 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Cedar Waxwing 



breeding season (May to August), in small flocks, and when 

on the wing fly 
close together in a 
straight line on 
about a level with 
the tree tops. They 
are chatterers 
rather than singers. 
(Cedar-bird ; Cher- 
ry-bird.) 

Length, 1\ ; wing, 
3| (3|-3|); tail, 2|; 
tarsus, f ; culmen, f. 
North America ; breed- 
ing from Virginia and Kansas northward (farther south in the moun- 
tains), and wintering throughout the United States south to Central 
America. 

FAMILY XI. SWALLOWS (HIRUNDiNID^E) 

This family comprises eighty species of long-winged, small 
birds. They spend most of the time in the air in pursuit of 
their food, which consists almost entirely of insects. Many 
have forked tails ; few have colors other than black and 
white ; many have glossy, and some, iridescent plu- 
mage. On account of their weak, small feet, they 
usually perch on very slender twigs, or by prefer- 
ence on telegraph wires. The top of the bill is very 
short, but the mouth is both wide and deep, reaching about to 
the eyes. 1 

Key to the Species 

* Wing over 5 long 1. Purple Martin, or 2. Cuban Martin. 

* Wing, 5 or less long. (A.) 

A. Tail, 3 or more long, the notch more than an inch deep ; the under 
tail feathers with white blotches ; throat chestnut ; back lustrous 

steel-blue 4. Barn Swallow. 

A. Tail, 2| or less long ; back with metallic luster. (C.) 
A. Tail, 2| or less long ; back brownish, without luster. (B). 
B. Breast brownish ; belly and throat white 6. Bank Swallow. 




■ s ^> 



FAM. XL SWALLOWS 



105 



B. Throat and breast brownish ; belly white. 7. Rough-winged Swallow. 
B. All under parts white . . 5. Tree Swallow. 

C. Throat chestnut or black ; upper tail coverts reddish 

3. Cliff Swallow. 

C. All under parts white 5. Tree Swallow. 

1. Purple Martin (611. Prdgne subis). — A large, shining, 

blue-black swallow, with a notched tail. The female is not 

so glossy on the back ; and her throat, 

breast, and sides are brownish-gray, 

and her belly white. It nests in boxes, 

gourds, etc., near human habitations, 

and is very common' throughout the 

Southern States. 

Length, 8 ; wing, 5f (51-61) ; tail, 3^ ; 
forked, f ; culnien, \. North America from 
Mexico to Ontario, wintering from Mexico to 
South America. 

2. Cuban Martin (611. 1. Prdgne crypto- 
leitca). — A Florida and Cuban species, 
very much like the last in habits and 
appearance, but if the belly feathers are 
opened, there will be found a broad, 
white spot on each. The female has 
the neck, chest, and sides a sooty- Purple Martin 
brown, changing abruptly to the white of the belly and under 

tail coverts. 

Length, 7|; wing, 5J 
(5f-6|); tail, 31 South- 
ern Florida and Cuba. 

3. Cliff Swallow 
^T ( 612. Petrochelidon lu- 

\ <Hj nifrons). — A steel- 

J ^S % blue-backed sw r allow, 

pj| HflC£ with a white fore- 

head, much chestnut 
on the neck, pale 
Cliff Swallow brownish above the 





106 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



tail, and a white belly. Tail very slightly notched. This bird 
bnilds gourd-shaped mud nests under the eaves of buildings 

and on rocks. (Eave Swal- 
low.) 

Length, b\ ; wing, 4^ (4-4 \) ; 
tail, 2 ; culmen, \. North America ; 
breeding from the Potomac and 
Texas northward into the Arctic 
regions, and wintering in Central 
and South America. 

4. Barn Swallow (613. Che- 
lido n erythrogdstra). — A com- 
mon, chestnut-bellied, steel- 
blue-backed swallow, with a 
deeply forked tail. The breast 
is dark chestnut, but the other 
under parts are lighter ; the 
under tail feathers are white 
blotched. It nests in barns, 
using mud and grass for build- 
ing. In flying, it keeps nearer the ground than most swallows. 

Length, 7; wing, 4| (4A-5); tail, 3-5; culmen, i. North America; 
breeding from Mexico to the Arctic regions, and wintering in Central 
and South America. 

5. Tree Swallow 
(614. Tachyclneta bi- 
color). — A steel- 
blue - backed swal- 
low, with all the 
under parts pure 
white. The back 
sometimes has a 
tinge of green, and 
the wings and tail 
are blackish. The young has brownish-gray upper parts. The 
tail is very slightly forked. The nests are found mainly in 




Barn Swallow 




Tree Swallow 



FAM. XI. SWALLOWS 



10' 




Bank Swallow 



hollows in trees, but some are built in boxes, like the mar- 
tins. (White - bellied 
Swallow.) 

Length, 6|; wing, 4f 
(4|-5); tail, 2| ; culmen, \. 
Xorth America ; breeding 
from the Ohio Valley north- 
ward, and wintering from 
the Gulf States to Central 
America. 

6. Bank Swallow 
(616. Clivicola rip&ria). 
— A small, common, 
dull, brownish-backed 
swallow, with white 
throat and belly, and a broad band of grayish-brown on the 
breast. The tail is slightly notched. There is a curious tuft of 
feathers above the hind toe. This bird breeds in great colonies 
in appropriate sandy banks, and if the locality is suitable, is 

very abundant. (Sand 
Martin.) 

Length, 5 ; wing, 4 
(3|-4L) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, 
a little over |. Northern 
hemisphere ; breeding 
from the Gulf States 
northward, and winter- 
ing from Central to South 
America. 

7. Rough-winged 
Swallow (617. Stelgi- 
ddpte ryx ser ripen n is) . 
— A dull, brownish- 
gray swallow, with 
white only on the 
lower belly ; tail slightly notched. The adult has recurved 
hooklets on the outer edge of the first primary. The young 
lack these, and have the breast somewhat tinged with chestnut. 




Kough-winged Swallow 



108 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

In general appearance much like the last, but slower in its 

flight. It nests in sand banks or among the timbers of bridges. 

Length, 5|; wing, 4| (4-4f); tail, 2i ; culmen, \. Southern Ontario 
and Connecticut southward ; breeding throughout. 

FAMILY XII. TANAGER S (TANAGRID^E) 

This is a large family (300 species) of tropical, tree-living 
birds, with brilliant colors and generally weak voices. Our 
, three species are stout-billed, 1 migratory birds. The 
males are mainly bright red, and without the crest 
which is so conspicuous on the cardinal grosbeak. 

Key to the Species 

* Male red, with black wings and tail, wings without wing bars ; female, 

olive, with most under parts greenish-yellow. . . .2. Scarlet Tanager. 

* Male red throughout ; female, yellowish-olive, with the under parts 

buffy-yellow 3. Summer Tanager. 

* With yellow or yellowish wing bars 1. Louisiana Tanager. 

1. Louisiana Tanager (607. Pirdnga halovkiana). — An ex- 
treme western species which has been recorded from a few of 
the Eastern States. It is a crimson-headed, yellow-bodied tana- 
ger, with the back, wings, and tail black ; wing with two yellow 
bars. Female, much like the female of No. 3, but with two 

light-colored wing 
bars. Size like that 
of the other tana- 
gers. Western United 
States, from the 
Plains to the Pacific. 

2. Scarlet Tanager 
(608. Pirdnga eri/th- 
romelas). — A com- 
mon, summer, red- 
Scarlet Tauager ^.^ ^ ^ 

black wings and tail, and no wing bars. Female, olive-green 
above, greenish-yellow below ; blackish wings and tail. This 




FAIL XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 109 

brilliantly colored bird is found in dense woods, singing its 

robin-like carol in the tree tops. 

Length, 7; wing, 3| (3|-3$); tail, 3; culinen, f. The United States, 
from the Plains eastward; breeding from Virginia to Xew Brunswick, 
and wintering from Mexico to South America. 

3. Summer Tanager (610. Pirdnga rubra). — A common,- sum- 
mer, red bird of the south, without either crest on head 
or black on wings or tail. Female, brownish-olive above and 
buffy-yellow below. This is a sweet singer in open woods, 
with notes which resemble those of the last species. Its 
call notes are very 
peculiar, and have 
been written chicky- 
tucky-tuck. (Summer 
Bed Bird.) 

Length, 74- ; wing, 3| *- 

(3|-4); tail," 3; tarsus, 

| ; culmen, I. Eastern 

tt m. j eu. x -u t Summer Tanager 

L nited States ; breeding D 

from Florida to Xew Jersey, wandering to Nova Scotia, and wintering in 

Mexico to South America. 



FAMILY XIII. FIXCHES, SPARROWS, AXD GROSBEAKS 
(FRIXGiLLID.E) 

This is the largest of the families of birds (550 species), and 
comprises medium to small forms to be found everywhere (ex- 
cept in Australia) at all seasons of the year. The family has 
never been successfully divided into groups, and the student, 
in working with these forms, will have greater difficulty in de- 
termining species than anywhere else among birds. All have 
somewhat short, conical bills, with the corners of the mouth 
abruptly bent downward. 12345 Host of our small species have 
plain colors arranged more or less in a streaky manner ; these 




*Q* 




110 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

are popularly called sparrows. About a dozen of the large 
species have very heavy, stout bills, and are called grosbeaks. 13 
Some are bright colored, others have bright markings of red or 
yellow ; these often have names to indicate their colors. Some 
have the nail of the hind toe peculiarly elongated and straight- 
ened; 4 these constitute the longspurs. Others, the cross- 
bills, have the bill remarkably curved and crossed at tip. 2 
Others, as the j uncos and towhees, have the plumage un- 
streaked, but with masses of different colors on different 
portions of the body. None of our species equal the robin 
in size, though a few come near it. The English sparrow is 
about the average, there being about twenty species smaller, 
twenty larger, and about twenty like it in size. The painted 
bunting, the smallest species (except Sharp's seed-eater of 
Texas), is about the size of the kinglets. The singing power 
varies wonderfully ; some hardly sing at all, while others are 
noted songsters. Some of our favorite cage birds — the canary 
for example — belong to this family. Nearly all are seed-eaters, 
and for this reason are not so migratory as the insect-eaters of 
other families ; the migration of birds being more due to lack of 
food than to inability to stand the cold. The streaked species 
are mainly inhabitants of the ground, while the brighter col- 
ored ones are more generally to be found among the trees. 

Key to the Species 

* Mandibles long and much curved, their points crossed at tip. 2 

— Without wing bars 4. American Crossbill. 

— With white wing bars 5. White-winged Crossbill. 

* Bill very stout, as high at base as the culmen is long ; top and bottom 

of bill usually much curved. 1 3 (X.) 

* Bill neither very stout (at least not so high at base as long) nor the 

points crossed at tip. (A.) 
A. Rather evenly colored birds ; there may be large patches of dif- 
ferent colors, but they are not sharply spotted or streaked either 
above or below ; some are somewhat mottled, but not in any very 
definite manner. (T. ) 
A. Decidedly spotted or streaked either above or below. (B.) 
B. Upper (middle) tail feathers especially narrow and sharp-pointed, 
much more so than the under ones. 5 (Q.) 



FAM. XIII. FIXCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Ill 

B. All tail feathers rather narrow and acutely pointed, and in many 

cases stiff. 6 (L.) 
B. Tail feathers neither especially narrow nor especially sharp-pointed, 
and in no cases stiff. (Xos. 36-37 have narrow but not acute tail 
feathers.) (C.) 
C. Wing, 4 or more long ; under parts white, sometimes with brownish 

markings 12. Snowflake. 

C. Wing, 3-4 long ; no yellow anywhere. (K.) 

C. Wing, 3-4 long ; some distinct yellow on bend of wing and head. 

— Some yellow on breast also 52. Dickcissel. 

— Xo yellow on breast 30. White- throated Sparrow. 

And under that species Golden-crowned Sparrow. 

C. Wing. 3 or less long. (D.) 

D. With a spot of bright red on the crown 6 and 7. Redpolls. 

D. With some distinct yellow somewhere. (I.) 
D. With neither distinct red nor yellow anywhere. (E.) 
E. Tail rounded ; breast without distinct streaks ; crown dark chest- 
nut or streaked ; no whitish win°:-bars 40. Swamp Sparrow. 

E. Tail rounded ; breast sharply streaked. (H.) 
E. Plumage not streaked below ; tail somewhat notched. (F.) 
F. Crown slate-color, ashy-brown, or liver-brown ; a distinct white or 
buffy wing bar. .11. European House Sparrow and E. Tree Sparrow. 
F. Crown grayish with a light central stripe ; a white line over the eye. 

— Eump brownish 33. Clay-colored Sparrow. 

— Hump slate-gray 32. Chipping Sparrow. 

F. Crown chestnut. (G.) 

G. Crown bright chestnut ; a narrow black line back of the eye and 

some black on the forehead 32. Chipping Sparrow. 

G. Crown bright chestnut ; a reddish-brown line back of the eye and 

a black or blackish spot on the breast 31. Tree Sparrow. 

G. Crown dull chestnut ; no black on the forehead ; a whitish eye 

ring 34. Field Sparrow. 

H. Back, sides, breast, and tail coverts much streaked ; crown with a 

faint, pale, medium line 38. Song Sparrow. 

H. Everywhere sharply streaked ; crown not chestnut ; a buffy band 

across breast 39. Lincoln's Sparrow. 

I. Wing quills and under tail feathers yellow at base ; tail notched ; 

under parts white, heavily streaked with black 9. Pine Siskin. 

I. Breast at least with some yellow ; tail notched and the under tail 
feathers white blotched 8. American Goldfinch. 




112 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

I. Breast with yellow; tail slightly double-rounded and the under 

feathers not white blotched 52. Dickcissel. 

I. Tail somewhat longer than the wings ; bend of wing yellow. (J.) 
J. Head striped and two of the stripes white with yellow in front ; a 

white throat patch 30. White-throated Sparrow. 

J. No yellow on head ; upper tail feathers not barred 

36. Bachman's Sparrow. 

J. No yellow on head ; upper tail feathers barred x 

37. Cassin's Sparrow. 

K. Rump, tail, and wings with much rusty-red ; large arrow-shaped 

spots on the white breast 41. Fox Sparrow. 

K. Male with much red ; female olive-brown ; tail an inch shorter than 

the wings and notched at tip 2 3. Purple Finch. 

K. Under parts pure white, except black spots on the breast; tail 

rounded, 3 and the under feathers black, with white tips 

27. Lark Sparrow. 

K. Wing with a conspicuous, light-colored (white or whitish) patch ; 

tail about square 4 53. Lark Bunting. 

K. Tail rounded ; wing, 3£ or less long ; crown pure white or pale 

brownish, margined with darker 29. White-crowned Sparrow. 

K. Tail rounded ; wing, 3|-3f ; center of crown more or less black. . . 

28. Harris's Sparrow. 

L. Breast with yellow ; throat with more or less black ; bend of wing 

yellow 52. Dickcissel. 

L. Tail double-rounded ; 5 middle and underpair of feathers about equal 

in length, the others gradually longer. (P.) 
L. Tail rounded ; 6 the middle pair of feathers about the longest ; the 
under feathers gradually shorter. (M. ) 
M. Culmen, \ or more long ; bend of wing yellow. (0.) 
M. Culmen, less than | long. (N.) 
N. Tail and wings almost exactly equal in length ; back feathers black, 

bordered by buffy ; no yellow in front of eye or on bend of wing 

23. Leconte's Sparrow. 

N. Tail measurably shorter than wing ; back brown streaked with 

black ; bend of wing pale yellow 22. Henslow's Sparrow. 

0. Back almost without streaks ; breast slightly streaked with dusky; 

yellow in front of eye 25. Seaside Sparrow. 

0. Back somewhat streaked ; breast broadly streaked with black ; 

yellow in front of eye 26. Dusky Seaside Sparrow. 

0. Center of crown with a distinct stripe of ashy ; breast and sides 
distinctly streaked with blackish 24. Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 



FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 113 

P. Wing, 2f-3£ j back ashy, somewhat streaked with brownish ; a white 

streak over the eye 18. Ipswich Sparrow. 

P. Wing, 2|-2| ; pale yellow in front of eye and on bend of wing ; back 

sharply streaked with black 19. Savanna Sparrow. 

P. Wing, 2|-2§ ; bend of wing yellow ; spot in front of eye orange 

21. Grasshopper Sparrow. 

P. Wing, 2|-3 ; western species with very narrow and acute tail feath- 
ers ; head buffy on crown and white on chin and throat 

20. Baird's Sparrow. 

Q. Hind toe nail but little longer than that of middle toe ; bend of 
wing chestnut ; breast without yellow but streaked with black ; 
under tail feathers almost entirely white ; tail double-rounded". . . 

17. Vesper Sparrow. 

Q. Hind toe nail but little longer than that of the middle toe ; breast 

with more or less of yellow ; under tail feathers not white 

52. Dickcissel. 

Q. Hind toe nail about as long as the hind toe and nearly twice as 
long as that of the middle toe and but little curved. 8 (R.) 
R. Bill stout, nearly as high at base as the culmen is long ; under tail 
feathers almost entirely white ; others, except the middle pair, tipped 

with black ; bend of wing chestnut (western) 

16. McCown's Longspur. 

R. Bill much more slender. 9 (S.) 

S. Two under tail feathers mostly wiiite ; under parts buffy 

14. Smith's Longspur. 

S. Second under tail feather but little white ; breast with much black ; 

belly whitish ; legs and feet black 13. Lapland Longspur. 

S. Under tail feathers mostly or entirely white ; all others with much 

white at base ; legs pale 15. Chestnut-collared Longspur. 

T. Tail as long as or longer than the wings. (W.) 

T. Tail shorter than the wings ; wing, 3 or more long. (V.) 

T. Tail shorter than the wings ; wing, 2-3 long. (U.) 

U. Body yellow, with wings and tail black (male) , or back brown, with 
more or less yellow below (female) ; bill very sharp and small. . . 

8. American Goldfinch. 

U. Plumage blue (male) or grayish-brown, with some tinge of blue on 
the outer w r eb of the quills (female) ; the under side of the bill 

with a blackish stripe 49. Indigo Bunting. 

U. Head blue ; back golden green ; rump and under parts red (male), 

or above olive-green ; below greenish-yellow (female) 

50. Painted Bunting. 



6 1 

apgar's birds. — 8 



114 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

U. Head blue and red, belly reddish-purple {male), or brownish with 

whitish lower parts and no wing bars {female) 

50. Varied Bunting. 

U. Because of lack of distinct streaks, one of the small sparrows with 

narrow, acute-pointed tail feathers might be sought for here 

25. Seaside Sparrow. 

V. Blue, with chestnut on wings {male), or plain brown {female) ; tail 

even. 1 48. Blue Grosbeak. 

V. Bird with crimson, black, yellow, and white in its plumage 

10. European Goldfinch. 

V. Brownish above and below, with rosy edgings to the quills ; black or 

clear ash on head ; tail slightly notched. The Gray-crowned Leucos- 

ticte (524. Leucostlcte tephrocdtis) of the Rocky Mountain region 

might be found east of those mountains. 

V. Because of their finch-like bills, the bobolink and cowbird (Nos. 1 

and 2 of the next family, page 144) might be looked for here. 

W. Under parts pure white or somewhat irregularly variegated with 

rusty ; nail of hind toe twice as long as that of the middle toe and 

much curved ; 2 wing, 4 or more long 12. Snowflake. 

W. Belly white ; sides chestnut-brown ; under tail feathers tipped 

with white ; back black {male), or grayish-brown {female) 

43. Towhee. 

W. Upper parts, head, and breast slate-color ; belly and outer tail 

feathers white 35. The Juncos. 

W. Upper parts olive-green ; under parts white, with pure white on the 
middle of the belly ; head somewhat striped ; edge of wings and 

under coverts of wings bright yellow 42. Texas Sparrow. 

X. Conspicuously crested, 3 with more or less of distinct red in the plu- 
mage 44. Cardinal and 45. Texas Cardinal. 

X. No crest ; small, southwestern birds, with wings less than 2| long. . . 

51. Sharp's Seed-eater and Grassquit (51). 

X. No crest ; large birds, with wings, 3f or more long. (Z.) 
X. No distinct crest ; smaller ; wings, 2|-3| long. (Y.) 
Y. Plumage with much red {male) or streaky olive-brown {female) ; 
no wing bars ; crown with erectile feathers, slightly imitating a 

crest 3. Purple Finch. 

Y. Streaky sparrow without yellow ; wings, 3 or less long and with 

white or buffy wing bar 4 11. European House Sparrow. 

Y. "Wing with a large, conspicuous white or whitish patch ; general 

color black {male), or brown streaked {female) 

53. Lark Bunting. 




FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SP ARROWS, ETC. 115 

Y. Plumage blue (male) or brownish or tawny (female) ; wing bars 

chestnut or buffy ; tail, \ inch shorter than the wings 

-48. Blue Grosbeak. 

Y. On account of the stout bill, 16. McCown's Longspur might be 
looked for here. It has the nail of the hind toe very long and 
nearly straight. 
Z. General colors rosy-red (male), or ashy-gray, with brownish-yellow on 

head and rump ( female) 2. Pine Grosbeak. 

Z. General colors black and white, with rich red on breast and under 
wing coverts (male), or brownish streaked, with the under wing cov- 
erts rosy or orange (female and young) ; tail with white blotches. . . 

46. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 

Z. General colors black and white, with neck and under parts orange or 
yellow (male), or brownish streaked, with the under wing coverts 

sulphur-yellow (female) .47. Black-headed Grosbeak. 

Z. Upper tail coverts yellow ; inner secondaries and wing coverts white ; 

bill greenish- yellow ; wing over an inch longer than the tail 

1. Evening Grosbeak. 

1. Evening Grosbeak (514. Coccothraustes (threstes) vesper- 

thius). — A heavy -billed, olive-brown bird, with black and 

white wings, black 

crown and tail, and 

yellow forehead and 

rump. The female 

lacks the black crown 

and yellow forehead 

and rump, and has 

both wings and tail 

blotched black and 

white. A grosbeak -, "T" 7 _ , , 

° Evening Grosbeak 

of western North 

America, which, rather irregularly in flocks, has been found 

as far east as Massachusetts. 

Length, 8; wing, 4| (4-4 J); tail, 3; culmen, f. Western British 
Provinces east to Lake Superior, and casually to the New England States. 

2. Pine Grosbeak (515. Pinicola enucleator). — A large, win- 
ter, uncrested grosbeak, with a rosy tint over most of the 
body, but brightest on the head, breast, and rump, and black- 
est on the wings and tail. Female slate-gray, with much 




116 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



olive-yellow on head, breast, and upper tail coverts. On its 
somewhat rare winter visits to the northern United States, it 
comes in flocks, and can usually be found on the sumachs and 

mountain ashes, eating 
the berries. 

Length, 8$ ; wing, 4| 
(4*-5); tail, 3f ; tarsus, $ ; 
culmen, T 9 5 . Northern parts 
of the northern hemisphere ; 
breeding from northern- New 
England northward, and 
wintering irregularly south- 
ward into the northeastern 
states. 

3. Purple Finch (517. 
Carpdclacus pu rpureus). 
— A common, small, 
rosy -red -bodied bird, 
with brownish wings 
and tail, and whitish 
belly. The rosy red 
is brighter on the head, 
breast, and rump. The female is very much like a streaky, 
grayish-brown sparrow, having white under parts marked with 
many spots and streaks of dark brown. The female is some- 
what difficult to determine, but the forked tail an inch shorter 
than the wings, and the tufts of feathers over the nostrils 
of the stout bill, distinguish it from all other birds. In its 
breeding range it is an excellent singer, and even in the 
autumn and early spring it makes more or less successful 
attempts at song. 




Pine Grosbeak 



Length, 6 



, r , 3*- (3-3 1) ; tail, 2^; culmen, J. North America 



from the Plains eastward ; breeding from New England northward (far- 
ther south in the mountains), and wintering in the Middle and Southern 

States. 

4. American Crossbill (521. Ldxia curvirdstra minor). — A 

climbing, dull-red-bodied, small bird with blackish wings and 



FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



117 



is brownish, the 
deeply notched. 




American Crossbill 



tail, and no white on the wings. The back 
rump bright red, and the tail short and 
The female has the 
red replaced by olive- 
green, with the rump 
yellowish. These 
birds are very irregu- 
lar in their appear- 
ance at any locality, 
but always come in 
flocks and are usu- 
ally found among the 
cone-bearing trees, ex- 
tracting the seeds by 
their peculiar bills, the lower mandible of which curves up- 
wards, its point crossing that of the upper one. In climbing 
about the trees, they act much like parrots. They fly in close 
ranks in a peculiarly undulating manner. (Red Crossbill.) 

Length, 6 ; wing, 3| (3[-3|) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. North- 
ern North America ; breeding in northern United States (south in the 
mountains to Georgia), and wintering irregularly south to Louisiana. 

5. White-winged Crossbill (522. Ldxia leucdptera). — A bird 
similar to the last in action and coloring, but the pinkish red 

of the body is much 
brighter, and the 
wings and tail black- 
er, and it has large 
white blotches on the 
wings. The female 
has a dull olive-green 
body, yellow rump, 
and white-blotched 
black wings. This 
bird is rare, but can 
be easily recognized by the white of the whig coverts and the 
greater noise it makes while feeding. 




White-winged Crossbill 



118 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 6 ; wing, 3* ; tail, 2| ; culmen, §. Northern North America; 
breeding from northern New England northward, and wintering south in 
the United States to Pennsylvania. 

6. Hoary Redpoll (527 a . Acdnthis hornemdnnii exilipes). — 
A bird similar to the next, but differing in having the rump 
nearly white (pinkish white in the male), without streaks, the 
feathers of back and wings with whitish edges, and the belly 
white without streaks. 

Length, 5; wing, 3 (2|— 3|-) ; tail, 2|; tarsus, | ; culmen, f s . Arctic 
America and northern Asia ; rarely wintering as far south as the northern 
United States. 



Redpoll (528. Acdnthis lina-ria). 




Redpoll 



■ A small, winter, red- 
capped, black-chinned, 
streaky, brownish spar- 
ow with (in the male) 
pink washings on the 
rump and breast. The 
very young lack the red 
cap. This bird comes 
into the northern 
United States rather 
irregularly in flocks, 
in the winter, and is 



usually found search- 
ing for seeds on the grasses and low weeds which project above 
the snow in pastures. (Redpoll Linnet.) 

Length, 5; wing 2} (2|-3) ; tail, 2^; tarsus, |j culmen, T \. North- 
ern portions of the northern hemisphere ; breeding north of the United 
States, and wintering very irregularly south to Virginia and Kansas. 
Holboll's Redpoll (528 a . A. I. holbcellii) is a larger bird with a longer 
bill; it has been once recorded from the United States (Massachusetts). 
Wing, 3-3t ; culmen, fully f . Greater Redpoll (528 b . A. I. rostrata) is 
a larger bird with darker feathers on the back. This bird has been seen 
irregularly as far south as southern New York and northern Illinois. 
Wing, . 3—3 1 ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, nearly f ; culmen, f. 

8. American Goldfinch (529. Spinus tristis). — A very common, 
small, yellow-bodied bird with black cap, wings, and tail. It 



FAM. XIII. 



119 




American Goldfinch 



flies through the air in a wave-like track, singing per-chio-o-ree 
on the downward slopes of its passage. The female all the 
year, and the male in winter, have only yellow wash- 
ings on a brownish body ; the black cap is j ^tU 
also lacking; the tail is deeply notched. . ^^^ 
Except in early summer when nest- 
ing, these birds. are found in small 
flocks. (Thistle-bird ; Yellow- 
bird.) 

Length, 5 ; wing, 2| (2| 
2|) ; tail, 2 ; culmen, f. 
Temperate Xorth Amer- 
ica ; breeding from Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky 
northward, and winter- 
ing throughout most if 
not the whole of the 
United States. The 
Arkansas Goldfinch 

(530. Spinus psaltria) differs in having the back dark olive-green to 
black in color, the lower parts only being lemon-yellow. The black 
wings have a large (or sometimes small) white patch on the base of the 
quills. The female is grayish-olive-green on the back, and greenish- 
yellow below ; the white patch on the wings is smaller. This is a west- 
ern bird found from the 
Plains to the Pacific. 



9. Pine Siskin (533. 
Spinus plnus). — A small, 
very streaky, dark - colored 
winter sparrow with much 
yellow on the wings and tail, 
which is decidedly notched. It 
has much the habits of the gold- 
finch, but is found more frequent- 
ly upon the cone-bearing trees, 
whence its name. (Pine Finch.) 




Pine Siskin 



Length, 5; wing, 2| ; tail, 1 



ilmen, f . North America ; breeding 
from the northern United States northward, and wintering very irregu- 
larly south to the Gulf States. 



120 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




10. European Goldfinch {CardvMis carduUis). — A peculiarly 
bright-colored bird which has been introduced into this coun- 
try from Europe, and 
has seemingly become 
naturalized in the vi- 
cinity of Boston and 
New York. It is a 
bright, brown-backed 
bird, with bright red 
around the base of 
the bill, black wings 
with a yellow band, 
black tail with white 

European Goldfinch blotches on the under 

feathers, black crown with a black stripe on the side of the 
neck, and white belly. Its habits are somewhat like those of 
the American goldfinch. 

Length, h\\ wing, 3; tail, 2; tarsus, \; culmen, I. 

11. European House Sparrow (Pdsser dom&sticus). — An alto- 
gether too common, streaky-backed, gray-crowned sparrow, 
with whitish lower parts, having a black or blackish patch on 
the throat and breast. The back colors are black and chest- 
nut ; the rump ashy. There is chestnut on the sides and 
back of the gray crown, and a white bar on the middle coverts 
of the wings. The female has the head and rump grayish- 
brown, and the breast and sides washed with the same color, 
though lighter. The back has buff instead of chestnut, and 
the wing bar is not so distinctly white. The nearly universal 
conclusion is that the introduction of this bird was a great 
mistake, and a mistake which cannot be remedied. It has 
already spread over nearly the whole area covered by this 
book, and has driven out many of our best American birds. 
(English Sparrow.) See illustration on p. 382. 

Length, 6 ; wing, 3 ; tail, 2| ; culmen, \ nearly. The European Tree 
Sparrow {Passer montanus) is a bird very similar in appearance to the 
last, which has become naturalized in the section near St. Louis, Missouri. 



FA3I. XIII. FIXC HE 'S. SPARROWS. ETC. 



121 



It can be recognized by the liver-brown color of the crown, and the wing 
rare!}* over 2| long. 

12. Snowflake (534. Plectrdphenax nivdXis). — A sparrow-like, 
ground-living, winter bird, with much white on head, tail, wings, 
and under parts ; up- 
per parts with much 
rusty-brown, streaked 
with black. This, our 
snow-colored snow- 
bunting, is to be 
found in the United 
States only when 
snow is on the ground. 
Like most of our 
small, winter birds, it 
is a seed -eater. It 
comes usually in large 
flocks. (Snow Bunt- 
ing ; TThite Snow- 
bird.) 




Snowflake 



Length, 6|j wing, 41 (4-4.1) ; tail, 2^ ; tarsus, f; culmen, f. Northern 
regions ; breeding north of the United States, and wintering regularly in 
northern states, and irregularly to Georgia and southern Illinois. 

13. Lapland Longspur (536. Ceded, Hus lapp&n icus). — A streaky- 
backed, white-bellied, sparrow-like, ground-feeding, winter bird 

of the United States, 
with the nail of the 
hind toe longer than 
its toe. The length of 
the hind toe and its 
nail can often be de- 
termined by its tracks. 
The back has streaks 

Lapland Longspur of y^ biwn? and 

buff. This bird is found among flocks of shorelarks and snow- 
flakes, and has the habit of squatting back of some clod, where 




122 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



it will remain till almost trodden npon ; then it will run a little 
distance and again attempt to hide. 

Length, §\; wing, 3£ (3|-3f) ; tail, 2f ; tarsus, §; culmen, |. North- 
ern regions; breeding far north, and wintering in the northern United 
States, irregularly farther south even to South Carolina. 

14. Smith's Longspur (537. Calcdrius pictus). — A rare 
winter bird of the western plains, of size and habits similar 
to that of the Lapland longspur, but with much more buffy 
color to its plumage, and the head and back with much black. 
A line over the eye and the ear coverts white ; a broad, white, 
wing bar, and the two under tail feathers mostly white. 

Length, Q\; wing, 3 1 (3^-3*); tail, 2h; tarsus, J; culmen, f. In- 
terior of North America ; breeding far north, and wintering south to 
Illinois and Texas. ' 

15. Chestnut-collared Longspur (538. Calcarius ornatus). — A 
beautiful western longspur of bright colors, with a chestnut 
collar, black breast and crown, and much white on head and tail. 
The bird may be distinguished by the great amount of white 
on the tail feathers (the under mostly white, the others with 
much white at base). Female usually without black. 

Length, 6; wing, 3| (3£-3J); tail, 2|- ; culmen, §. Interior of North 
America ; breeding from western Minnesota west and north, and wintering 
south to Texas ; accidental in Massachusetts. 



Rliynchdphanes mccdwnii). — 
mottled, western longspur, 



16. McCown's Longspur (539. 
A heavy-billed, grayish-brown, 
with black crown and 
crescent-shaped mark 
on breast and white- 
blotched tail feath- 
ers. The female lacks 
the black of head and 
breast, but both sexes 
have the under tail 
feathers white, and 
the others, except the middle pair, white at base with square, 
dark tips. (Black-breasted Longspur.) 




McCown's Longspur 



FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



123 




Length, 6 ; wing, 3| (3|-3f); tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. Interior 
North America ; breeding from northern Kansas north to the Saskatche- 
wan, and wintering south to Texas and northern Mexico. 

17. Vesper Sparrow (540. Pooccetes gramineus). A ground- 
living, streaky sparrow, with the bend of the wing chestnut and 
the outer tail feathers 
white. The back is 
mainly brownish-gray, 
and the under parts 
white, streaked with 
black and buffy. This, 
though mainly a field 
sparrow, Avill occasion- 
ally perch on fences 
and trees. It is one of 
the sweetest singers of Ves P er S P arrow 

the morning and evening, the evening song giving it the name 
of vesper sparrow. Its notes are much like those of the song 
sparrow, but more plaintive. (Grass Finch ; Bay-winged 
Bunting.) 

Length, 6i ; wing, 31 (2|-3|) ; tail, 2i ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f . North 
America from the Plains eastward ; breeding from Virginia and Missouri 
north to Nova Scotia, and wintering from south New Jersey southward. 
The Western Vesper Sparrow (540 a . P. g. confinis) averages slightly 
larger, is grayer in color, and is found from the Plains to the Pacific. 

18. Ipswich Sparrow (541. Ammdclramus princeps). — A 
rare, seacoast, brownish, much-streaked sparrow, with a white 

line over the eye, two 
buffy wing bars, and 
sometimes a spot of 
sulphur-yellow in 
front of the eye and 
on the bend of the 
wing. The upper parts 
Ipswich Sparrow are str eaked with 

brownish, black, and ashy ; the lower parts are white, with 
streaks of blackish and buff on the breast and sides. 




124 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 6\ ; wing, 3(2|-3i) ; tail, 2§ ; tarsus, |; culmen, f. Atlantic 
coast ; breeding in Nova Scotia, and wintering as far south as Georgia. 

19. Savanna Sparrow (542 a . Ammddramus sandwichensis 
savdnna). — A common, very streaky, ground sparrow, with 
some yellow in front of the eyes and on the bend of wing; 
in habits, size, and coloring much like the vesper spar- 
row. The streaky under parts and the method of flying are 
especially similar, but it lacks the chestnut bend of wing and 
the distinct white under tail feathers of that species, only the 
outer edge being whitish. 

Length, 5|- ; wing, 2| (2i-2|) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. Eastern 
North America ; breeding from northern New Jersey and Missouri to 
Hudson Bay, and wintering from North Carolina southward. The West- 
ern Savanna Sparrow (542 b . A. s. alaudinus) has a smaller and more 
slender bill and is paler and more grayish in color. It is found from the 
Plains westward. 

20. Baird's Sparrow (54:5. Ammddramus bdirdii). — A western, 
ground-living, pale-yellowish-brown sparrow, with a streaky, 

grayish-brown back and 
many sharp, small, dark 
streaks on its head and 
breast. From the breast 
the under parts are a dull 
white. Its notes have been 
written by Dr. Coues, "zip- 
zip-zip-zr-r-r-r." This spe- 
cies is much like the last, 
but its tail feathers are 
more narrow and acute. 

Length, 51; wing, 2f (2|-3); 
tail, 2\ ; tarsus, \ ; culmen, f . 
Interior North America from 
the Plains westward to Arizona. 

21. Grasshopper Sparrow 

Grasshopper Sparrow ( 546 Ammddramus savan- 

ndrum passer) mis). — A common, streaky-backed, buffy-breasted, 
ground sparrow, with the sides much like the breast, but the 




FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 125 

belly whitish and bend of wing yellow. The upper parts are 
streaked with black, brown, ashy, and buff, and the blackish 
crown has a buffy line through the center. There is an orange 
dot in front of the eye. The tail feathers are very acute, and 
their edges are decidedly lighter than the brown centers. This 
bird is one of the quietest and most easily overlooked of our 
common birds of the open fields. It takes its name from its 
voice, which is much like that of some grasshoppers. It rarely 
takes a higher position than that of the fences, and from such a 
perch it usually does its singing. (Yellow-winged Sparrow.) 

Length, 5; wing, 2| (2^-2^) ; tail, If; tarsus, f ; culirien, T ^. United 
States from Plains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf States to Canada, 
and wintering from Florida to Central America. The Western Grass- 
hopper Sparrow (546 a . A. s. perpdllidus) has larger wings and tail, a 
more slender bill, and is paler in color. Wing, 2^ ; tail, 2. It is found 
from the Plains westward. 

22. Henslow's Sparrow (547. Ammddramus hensldwii). — A 
ground-living, sharp-tailed, brownish sparrow, with the back, 
breast, and sides very 
much streaked with black, 
brown, and buffy. The 
bright brown on the back, 
wings, and tail and the 
olive tints of the head 
are the plainest charac- 
teristics of this rare, secre- 
tive, weed-inhabiting bird 
of the meadows or dry 
fields. 




Wm 



**r **' 



H 



Henslow's Sparrow 



Length, 5 ; wing, 2\ (2-2£) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 
more. United States from the Plains eastward; breeding from the Gulf 
States northward to southern New England and Ontario, and wintering 
in the Gulf States. 

23. Leconte's Sparrow (548. Ammddramus lecdnteii). — A 
sharp-tailed, streaky-backed, buffy-colored sparrow, with a 
cream-colored streak along the center of the blackish crown : 
the breast is practically without streaks, but there are some 



126 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



streaks along the sides ; the belly is white ; the under tail 
feathers are nearly a half inch shorter than the middle pair. 
This is a western species of fields and marshes. 

Length, 5 ; wing, 2 (lf-2|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. Interior 
United States ; breeding from Minnesota north to Manitoba, and winter- 
ing from Iowa to Florida and Texas. 

24. Sharp-tailed Sparrow (549. Ammddramus cauddcutiis). — 
A common, salt-marsh, sharp-tailed, streaky, olive-gray spar- 
row, with distinct orange-brown 
bands on the head, above and 
below the eye. The buffy lower 
parts are darkly streaked on the 
sides and breast, but the throat 
and belly are nearly white. This 
bird prefers to escape from a 
person by running and hiding 
among the grasses and reeds of 
the salt marshes (where it 
dwells), rather than to use its 
wings in flight. 

Length, 5} ; wing, 2\ (2|-2|) ; tail, 
2; tarsus, |; culmen, §. Marshes of 
the Atlantic coast ; breeding from 
North Carolina to Maine, and winter- 
ing along the south Atlantic and Gulf 
States. Nelson's Sparrow (549 a . A. 
c. nelsoni) is a slightly smaller variety with the feathers of the back 
darker in the center and with wider whitish edges, and the sides, breast, 
and throat darker in tint, but much less streaked. Fresh marshes of the 
interior ; breeding from Illinois northward, and wintering from Texas 
to South Carolina; accidental in New England. The Acadian Sharp- 
tailed Sparrow (549 b . A. c. subvirgatus) differs in having the sides, breast, 
and throat more creamy in tint and faintly streaked with gray rather 
than black. A salt marsh form ; Nova Scotia to South Carolina. 

25. Seaside Sparrow (550. Ammddramus maritimus). — A 
common, salt-marsh, sharp-tailed, slightly streaked, grayish- 
brown sparrow, with a little yellow at bend of wing and in 
front of eye. The white throat and middle of the belly and 




Sharp-tailed Sparrow 



FAIL XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



127 



the dusky breast indistinctly streaked with whitish are good 
distinguishing marks of this species, but a dusky and white 
stripe at each side of 
the white throat and 
the absence of any 
tint of reddish brown 
are still more charac- 
teristic. It is a 
ground bird, found 
nearly always among 
the reeds and grasses 
within both sight and 
sound of the sea. 



Length, 6 ; wing, 2f 
(2^-2^) ; tail, 2i ; tarsus, 
Atlantic 




Seaside Sparrow 



coast ; breeding from Georgia to Massachusetts, and wintering from 
Virginia southward. Scott's Seaside Sparrow (550 a . A. m. peninsidce) 
is a south Atlantic and Gulf coast variety of a very much darker color. 

26. Dusky Seaside Sparrow (551. Ammddramus nigrescens). — 
A Florida species more nearly like Scott's seaside sparrow than 
any other form, but differing in having the feathers of the upper 

parts black, with gray- 
} ish edges, and the 
under parts sharply 
streaked with about 
equal amounts of 
black and white. 

Length, 6 ; wing, 2f ; 
tail, 2 1 ; tarsus, f; cul- 
men, i. Eastern Florida. 

27. Lark Sparrow 
Lark Sparrow ( 552> Qh Olid est es 

grdmmacus). — A common, western, ground-living, lark-like, 
streaky sparrow, with black and white tail, ashy-brown back, 
and a striped white and chestnut-colored head. The central 




128 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



tail feathers and the bases of the others are dark in color, 
forming a decided contrast to the ashy-brown back and white 
tips to the under tail feathers. There are black streaks on the 
side of throat and in the center of the breast. 

This is a fine song bird of the middle west, with notes which 
somewhat resemble those of the song sparrow. When singing, 
it usually takes some elevated position on fence or tree. 

Length, 6^ ; wing, 3| (3}-3f ) ; tail, 2| ; culmen, T 7 ^. The Mississippi 
Valley region to the Plains ; breeding from Texas to Manitoba; accidental 
on the Atlantic coast. 

28. Harris's Sparrow (553. Zonotrichia querula). — A large, 
beautiful, western, streaked, reddish-colored sparrow, with 

heavy brownish 
markings on the 
white of the breast 
and sides. The male 
when breeding has 
the head jet black ex- 
cepting the cheeks, 
which are a s h - 
colored ; the throat 
and breast patch are 
also black. The 
female (also the male 
out of season) has the head not especially marked and the 
breast patch brownish. There is no yellow anywhere, and 
the two white wing bars are distinct. This is the largest spar- 
row of the genus (Zonotrichia), and has been found from 
Illinois westward, mainly on the prairies and bushy bottom 
lands. (Black-hooded Sparrow.) 

Length, 7\ ; wing, 3| (3i-3f) ; tail, 3£; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, nearly |. 
Interior United States from Illinois to Kansas, and Texas to Manitoba. 

29. White-crowned Sparrow (554. Zonotrichia leucdphrys). — A 
rare, beautiful, large, brownish sparrow, with the head striped 
black and white (three white and four black stripes), and the 
lower parts gray with some buff on the sides. There are two 




Harris's Sparrow 



FAIL XIII. FINCHES, SPARROWS. ETC. 



129 




White-crowned Sparrow 



white wing bars and no yellow on head or wings. It is found 
in the eastern United States only during the colder months ; 
its singing is remarkable, 
resembling that of the 
white-throated sparrow. 

Length, 6| ; wing, S\ (3-31); 
tail, 3 ; tarsus, nearly 1 ; cul- 
men, §-. North America ; breed- 
ing north of the United States, 
and wintering from Virginia to 
Mexico. 

30. White-throated Spar- 
row (558. Zonotrichia albi- 
cdllis). — A common, social, 
large, streaky, brownish 
sparrow, with a distinctly 
striped head and a square white patch on the throat, dis- 
tinct from the grayish under parts. The head has two black 
and three white stripes, two of the white stripes yellow in 
front, and there are two distinct white wing bars. This 
beautiful sparrow is especially abundant in small flocks, 

in the autumn and 
winter, in the under- 
growth of the woods 
and along the bushy 
fence rows. It is a 
good singer and says 
very distinctly pea- 
body, peabody, whence 
it derives one of its 
names. (Peabody 
White-throated Sparrow Bird.) 

Length, 6| ; wing, 2| (2§-3|) ; tail, 3| ; tarsus, | ; culmen, f. North 
America, from the Plains eastward ; breeding along the northern border 
of the United States northward, and wintering from southern New Eng- 
land southward to the Gulf. The Golden-crowned Sparrow (557. Zono- 
trichia coronata), a Pacific coast species with a back like the white-throated 
apgar's birds. — 9 




130 



KEY AND DESCBIPTION 



sparrow, and lower parts like the white-crowned sparrow, but with the 
central crown stripe yellow in front, has been seen in AVisconsin. 

31. Tree Sparrow (559. Spizella monticola). — A chestnut- 
crowned, streaky-backed, winter chippy, with whitish under 

parts unmarked ex- 
cept by a blackish 
dot on the center of 
the breast and some 
brownish washings on 
the sides. There are 
two distinct white 
wing bars. This com- 
mon winter bird of 
the fields and bushes 
has a deeply notched 
tail like all of the genus (Spiz4lla) f and is decidedly larger than 
the summer chippy (No. 32). (Winter Chippy.) 

Length, 6| ; wing, 3 (2^-31) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. North 
America, from the Plains eastward 
and wintering through most 
of the eastern United States. 




breeding north of the United States, 




32. Chipping Sparrow 

(560. Spizella socialis). 

— A common, small, 

chestnut-crowned, 

streaky-backed sparrow, 

with whitish under parts 

and line over the eye. 

The notched tail, black 

bill and forehead, and 

(even in the young) 

slaty-gray rump are all Gh ^^ S P arrow 

points of importance in the determination of this species, as, 

in the autumn, the crown loses its bright chestnut color and 

becomes more or less streaked. This bird is one of the most 

quiet, familiar, and trustful frequenters of our dooryards and 



FAM. XIII. FIX CHE S, SPA B BOWS, FTC. 



131 




can readily be induced to eat out of our hands. Such song as 
it has is an insect-like repetition of its common name of chippy. 
(Chippy ; Hair-bird.) 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2f (2|-2|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, .f ; culinen, f. Eastern 
United States ; breeding from the Gulf States to Great Slave Lake, and 
wintering from the Gulf States to Mexico. 

33. Clay-colored Sparrow (561. SpizeUa pdttida). — A small, 
western, pale-colored sparrow, with much gray in its plumage, 
giving it its common name. Back 
brownish-gray ; under parts white 
soiled with gray; sides of head 
brown, with irregular black and 
whitish markings : crown with a 
pale medium stripe ; rump brown- 
ish-gray and not slaty-gray. In 
habits it is like the chipping 
sparrow but not so confiding and 

trustful. 

Clay-colored Sparrow 
Length, 5| ; wing, 2| (2f-2£) ; tail, 
2f ; culinen, nearly §. Interior North America from the Kocky Moun- 
tains to Illinois ; breeding from 
Iowa northward, and winter- 
ing from southern Texas into 
Mexico. 

34. Field Sparrow (563. 
Sp> izella p usllla) . A buff y- 
breasted, reddish - billed, 
streaky - backed sparrow, 
with a dull-chestnut crown 
and gray line over the eye. 
The back is brightly 
marked with black, red- 
dish - brown, and ashy, 
the breast unspotted buff; 
This bird is not an inhabitant 
It is a fine 




Field Sparrow 

wings with two white bars, 

of the open fields, but seeks bushy pastures 



132 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



singer, especially of the early evening, and its notes have 
great variety. 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2| (2§-2f) ; tail, 2| ; culmen, f. Eastern United 
States and southern Canada ; breeding from South Carolina northward, 
and wintering from Illinois and Virginia southward. 



35. Slate-colored Junco (567. Junco hyemhlis). — A small, 
slate-colored, winter bird, with white belly and under tail 
feathers, and flesh-colored bill. The slate color 
of the breast abruptly changes to the white 
of the belly. This very common and easily 
recognized bird of the snowy season is 
usually found in flocks of twenty to 
thirty in the fields and among the 
bushes. When it flies, the white 
of the under tail feathers is 
readily seen. (Junco ; 
Snow-bird; Black 
Snow-bird.) 

Length, 6 ; wing, 3 
(2J-3}-) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 
Slate-colored Junco f ; culmen, \ nearly. 

North America mainly 
east of the Rocky Mountains ; breeding among the higher parts of the 
Alleghanies and other mountains northward, and wintering throughout. 
The Carolina Junco (567 e . J. h. carolinensis) differs in having a darker 
colored bill and the back without any show of brownish, which can always 
be noticed on the common Junco. It is a common resident variety of 
the mountains of Virginia, North and South Carolina. A much browner 
variety than even the common one is Shufeldt's Junco (567 b . ./. h. shii- 
feldti). In this the sides are almost a wine-brown. This belongs to the 
region from the Rocky Mountains westward, but has been seen in a num- 
ber of the Eastern States, Massachusetts, Maryland, etc. The White- 
winged Junco (566. Junco alkeni) has two very distinct white wing bars. 
It breeds in the Black Hills, and in winter is found south to Colorado. 




36. Bachman's Sparrow (575 a . Peuccea cestivctlis bachmdnii). 

— A streaky, brownish-red-backed sparrow with the lower parts 
grayish-buff, deepest on the breast and almost white on the 



FAM. Xlll. FINCHES, SPABBOWS, ETC. 



138 



belly; the bend of the wing is yellow and the tail much 
rounded; the under feathers are a half inch shorter than 
the upper ones, and all the tail feathers are very narrow 
though not acute-pointed. The bright rusty back is usually 
without black streaks. This is a won- 
derfully sweet and somewhat loud 
singer ; found in its northern range in & 

the open woods. 

Length, 6; wing, 2\ (2|-2|) ; tail, 2f ; 
tarsus, | ; culmen, \ or more. The Carolinas 
west to Texas, north to southern Illinois, 
wintering in Florida. The Pine-woods Spar- 
row (575. Peuccea aestivalis) differs in having 
the back a light chestnut, streaked with black 
and margined with gray, and the breast some- 
times spotted with black. It is an inhabitant 
of pine woods with an undergrowth of scrub 
palmetto. According to Frank M. Chapman 
it is the best singer among all our sparrows, 
and compares well in the exquisite tender- 
ness and pathos of its melody with the hermit 
thrush. Florida and southern Georgia. 

37. Cassin's Sparrow (578. Peuccea 
cdssini). — This western species is 
similar to Bachman's sparrow, but differs in having the upper 
tail feathers decidedly barred with somewhat crescent-shaped 
dusky spots and the flanks broadly streaked with brownish. 




Bachman's Sparrow 



Length, 6\ ; wing, 2f ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, | ; culmen, \. 
western Kansas, south and west to Texas and Nevada. 



Central and 



38. Song Sparrow (581. Mdosplza fascicita). — A. very com- 
mon, streaky, grayish-brown sparrow, with the sides of the 
breast especially marked with a cluster of stripes forming 
a blotch of brownish. It is abundant among shrubbery near 
water, and throughout the year of four seasons, and even 
throughout the day of twenty-four hours, it shows its wonder- 
ful powers of song. Of course the morning and evening of 
spring days are its especial times for singing. Though it 



134 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



usually sings while perched on a twig, it occasionally sings 
a new and varied song while on the wing. 

Length, 6\ ; wing, 2f 
(2!-2|) ; tail, 2f ; tar- 
sus, f ; culmen, \. North 
America from the 
Plains eastward ; breed- 
ing from Virginia north- 
ward, and wintering 
throughout the eastern 
United States. 

39. Lincoln's Spar- 
row (583. Melospiza 
lincdlnii). — A huffy- 
breasted, white-bel- 
lied, streaky, brown- 
ish-backed sparrow, 
with the throat 
white like the belly. 
The whole bird, ex- 
cept the middle of 
the belly, is sharply 
streaked. The 

creamy buff on the breast forms a band across it. This is 

a western bird of shy habits, rarely seen east of the Alle- 

ghanies. It is a singer of 

no great power, and of ^fe* 

rather strange notes for a 

sparrow. 

Length, 5|; wing, 2| (2|- 
2|); tail, 21; tarsus, £; cul- 
men,!. North America ; breed- 
ing chiefly north of the United 
States, and wintering south of 
it. 

40. Swamp Sparrow (584. 
Melospiza georgiana). — A 
common swamp Or meadow- Lincoln's Sparrow 




Song Sparrow 




FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPABROWS, ETC. 



135 




dwelling, streaky-brown bird, similar in coloring to the song 
sparrow, excepting that the breast is unstreaked. It is a little 
smaller in size, and 
has no snch power of 
song. Its notes con- 
sist of a repetition 
of ticeet-tweet, with but 
little if any change of 
pitch. 

Length, 5|; wing, 2| 
(2|-2i) ; tail, 2| ; cul- 
men, nearly §. North 
America from the Plains 
eastward; breeding from 
Virginia northward, and 
wintering from Massa- 
chusetts to the Gulf 
States. 

41. Fox Sparrow (585. Passerella iUaca). — A large, spotted- 
breasted, rusty-red sparrow, with much bright chestnut on wings, 
tail, and cheeks. The middle of the belly is unspotted white. 
In the autumn and early spring, during migrations, this bird is 
found among shrubbery in flocks, and at those times, but more 
especially in spring, it shows more than the usual power of 

song of sparrows. 

Length, 7; wing, 3f 
(3±-3§) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 
1 ; culmen, \. North 
America from the Plains 
eastward; breeding north 
of the United States, and 
wintering mainly south 
of the Potomac and Ohio 
rivers. 



Swamp Sparrow 




Fox Sparrow 



42. Texas Sparrow 



(586. Embemcigra riiftvirg&ta). — A southwestern olive-green- 
backed, brownish-white-breasted sparrow, with a striped head 
and bright-yellow edge to the wing. The crown has two chest- 



136 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



nut-brown stripes beside the central grayish one, and a brown 
stripe back of the eye below a side stripe of ashy. These 
stripes are not very sharply defined. (Green Finch.) 

Length, 6^; wing, 2| (2|-2§) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; cuhnen, f. West- 
ern Texas and eastern Mexico, rarely to southern Louisiana. 

43. Towhee (587. Pipilo erythrophtlidlmus). — A large, brightly 
marked bird, with black upper parts and breast, white belly 
an*d tips of under tail feathers, and chestnut sides. In the 

female the black is 
replaced by bright, 
grayish brown, ex- 
cepting that the tail 
feathers are blackish, 
with similar white 
tips which can be dis- 
tinctly seen while on 
the wing. This is a 
c o m m o n, restless, 
ground bird of the 
bushy woods. The 
notes are clear, chemnk, towhee, forming two of its com- 
mon names. Ernest Thompson writes the full notes "chuck- 
burr, piU-a-ivitt-a-icill-a." (Chewink; Marsh "Kobin"; Ground 
"Bobin"; Joree.) 

Length, S\ ; wing, 3| (3i-3f ) ; tail, 3^ ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, T 9 g. United 
States east of the Plains, and southern Canada ; breeding from Georgia 
northward, and wintering from Virginia southward. The White-eyed 
Towhee (587 a . P. e. dlleni) is a similar bird, but smaller, and with less 
white on the wings, and only two of the under tail feathers white at tip ; 
eyes very light-colored, almost white. This is a shyer bird than the last, 
and is found among heavier growths. Wing, 31 ; tail, 3f. Florida north 
to South Carolina. The Arctic Towhee (588. Pipilo maculatus arcticus) 
is similar to the common towhee, but has white spots on the wing coverts 
and shoulders, the white on the shoulders lengthened into streaks, and that 
of the coverts forming two bars. The female is a dark brown, with the 
white markings as in the male. Wing, 3|; tail, 4. The Rocky Moun- 
tains eastward to Kansas, and northward to the Saskatchewan River, 
wintering from Kansas to Texas. 




Towhee 



FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPAR BOWS, ETC. 



137 



44. Cardinal (593. Cardinalis cardinalis). — A large, distinctly 
crested, red bird, with black around the red bill, most extensive 
on the throat. The female has less bright red anywhere, the 
under parts are buffy and the throat blackish. The crest, 
wings, and tail are dull red. 
These birds are fine song- 
sters and are frequently kept 
in cages ; both sexes sing. 
They are resident birds wher- 
ever they are found, and as 
they are more easily and 
frequently seen when the 
foliage is off the trees they 
are often called winter red 
birds. . (Cardinal Grosbeak.) 

Length, 8| ; wing, 3f (31-4) ; 
tail, 4| ; tarsus, 1 ; oilmen, f. 
United States from the Plains 
eastward, north to the Great 
Lakes and central Xew England; 
wintering ahout as far north as its 
full range, and breeding through- 
out. Cardinal 




45. Texas Cardinal (594. Pyrrhv.loxia sinuata). — This is a 
bird similar to the last, but lacking the black around the bill, 
and the very short and convex bill is yellow or slightly horn- 
color instead of red. Size practically the same as that of the 
cardinal except the shorter culmen. Southern Texas and 
Mexico, rarely to southern Louisiana. • 

46. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (595. Habia ludoviciana). — 
A common, heavy-billed, beautifully marked black, white, 
and rose-colored bird. The head, back, wings, and tail are 
mainly black ; breast and under the wings rose color ; blotches 
on wings, rump, tips of under tail feathers, and belly white. 
The female is very different. Upper parts streaky grayish- 
brown, lower parts streaky buff. A broad conspicuous whitish 



138 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Eose-breasted Grosbeak 



line over the eye and orange under the wing. Its warbling 
notes are somewhat like those of the robin, but more melodious 

and very frequently 
given in the even- 
ing. It is one of 
our most beautiful 
birds and sings an 
exquisite song. 

Length, 8 ; wing, 4 
(3f-4i) ; tail, 3} ; tar- 
sus, £ ; culmen, f . East- 
ern United States, from 
the eastern border of the 
Plains ; breeding from the mountains of the Carolinas and Kansas north- 
ward to southern Canada, and wintering in Mexico to northern South 
America. 

47. Black-headed Grosbeak (596. Habia melanocephala). — A 
heavy-billed, orange-bodied bird, with black head, wings, and 
tail. The wings are much blotched 
with white, and the belly and under 
wing coverts are bright yellow. The 
female is very different, a streaky- 
brown bird much like the female 
of the last species, but with the 
under wing coverts clear lemon- 
yellow instead of the salmon- or 
orange-yellow of that species. The 
dimensions of parts are practi- 
cally the same as those of the 
rose-breasted grosbeak. Western 
United States from middle Kansas \ i 

to the Pacific. 




48. Blue Grosbeak (597. Guirdtca 
ccerulea). — A southern, uncrested, 
dull-blue grosbeak, with a large 
chestnut-colored blotch on the wings; wings, tail, chin, and 



Blue Grosbeak 



FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPABBOWS, FTC. 



139 



lores mainly black. The female is grayish-brown above and 
creamy-buff below, sometimes with dull-blue on head and tail ; 
the tail and wings are blackish-brown, with the wing coverts 
tipped with reddish-buff. This is a quiet, retiring bird of the 
thickets and weeds, of meadows and old clearings. The war- 
bling notes of its song are said to be very beautiful, though 
weak. 

Length, 7 ; wing, 31 (3i-3|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, §. United 
States from central Nebraska eastward ; breeding from the Gulf to south- 
ern New Jersey, and wintering from southern Mexico to Central America. 
Casual to New England. 

49. Indigo Bunting (598. Passerlna cyclnea). — A small, 
bright, blue bird, with no plain show of any other color any- 
where, though the wing and tail feathers have much black on 
the hidden portions. The female is unstreaked grayish-brown, 
lighter below, with blackish wings and tail, having a gloss of 
bluish. The under 

side of the bill al- 
most invariably has a 
stripe of blackish. 
This beautiful bird 
is a common inhabit- 
ant of old bushy pas- 
tures. (Indigo Bird.) 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2| 
(2f-2f) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 
| ; culmen, f . United 
States from Kansas east- 
ward ; breeding from the 
Gulf to southern Canada, 

and wintering in Central America. The Lazuli Bunting (599. Passerina 
amcena), found from the Plains to the Pacific, is a similar bird, but the 
male has a white belly, white wing bars, and brown breast, and the female 
has brownish fore parts, and the rump and tail with much blue, and two 
whitish wing bars. Size a little greater. 

50. Painted Bunting (601. Passerlna ciris). — A brilliantly 
colored small bird of southern states, with blue head, green 
back, red rump, brown wings and tail, and bright red under 




Indigo Bunting 



140 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




parts. The female has the upper parts bright olive-green and 
the under parts yellowish. This, though the most conspic- 
uously colored of our birds, is, on account of its shy and retir- 
ing habits, seldom 
seen. Its home is 
among the densest 
and most thorny un- 
dergrowth of the 
wooded regions. 
(Nonpareil.) 

Length, 5} ; wing, 2| 
(2|-2|); tail, 8}; tar- 
sus, | ; culmen, f . East- 
ern United States ; breed- 
Painted Bunting ing from southern Illi- 
nois and North Carolina 
southward, and wintering south of the United States to Central America. 
The Varied Bunting ((500. Passerina versicolor) of southern Texas to 
Central America (accidental in Michigan) differs in having no green on 
the male. The forehead, hind neck, bend of wing, and rump, blue ; wings 
and tail glossed with blue ; throat and hind head, dull red ; belly, reddish- 
purple. The female has brownish back and breast, whitish lower parts, 
and no whitish wing bars. 

51. Sharp's Seed-eater (602. SpordpJiila morelleti shdrpei). — 
A very small, heavy -billed, southern Texas bird, with the upper 
parts black and the lower parts, including collar around neck, 
white or buffy. The rump is brownish, and the lower part of 
the collar is black. The female is plain olive above and olive- 
buffy below, and there are two whitish bars on the wings. 

Length, 4 ; wing, 2 ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f nearly. Southern 
Texas and northwestern Mexico. The Grassquit (603. Euetheia bicolor) 
of the West Indies has been seen in southern Florida. It is a very 
small, stout-billed, olive-green bird with black head and lower parts 
becoming grayish on the belly. The female is olive-green with grayish 
head and lower parts. Length, 4 ; wing, 2 ; tail, If. The Melodious 
Grassquit (603.1. Euetheia canora), a similar small bird, also seen once 
in southern Florida, has a yellow, crescent-shaped band across the lower 
throat, extending back of the eyes. The chin and upper throat of the 
female is marked with chestnut-red. This species belongs to Cuba and 
has been seen only on one of the Florida Keys. 



FAM. XIII. FINCHES, SPABBOWS, FTC. 



141 



52. Dickcissel (604. Splza amencana). — A yellow-breasted, 
black-throated, streaky-backed, sparrow-like bird with a red- 
dish spot on the bend of 
the wing. The chin 
above the black throat 
is white, with more or 
less of yellow on the 
cheeks, and the crown 
and side of head are 
gray, with a yellow line 
over the eye. The back 
is brownish, streaked 
with black, and the belly 
whitish. Female duller 
and with but little yel- 
low except on the breast, 
and the black throat 
patch almost wanting, 
sometimes slightly in- Dickcissel 

dicated by dusky spots. In summer it is abun- 
dant west of the Alleghanies in weedy 
fields, and the common notes it utters 
are expressed by its name. (Black- 
throated Bunting.) 





Length, 6^ 
(2|-3f ) ; tail, 



; wing, di 
2-1- ; tarsus, 



Lark Bunting 



ern United States to the 
Rocky Mountains; breed- 
ing from Texas to southern 
Ontario, and wintering in 
northern South America. 
Very rare east of the Alle- 
ghanies. 



53. Lark Bunting (605. Calamospiza melanocdrys). — A west- 
ern, square-tailed, stout-billed, black bird, with a large white 
patch on the wings. The female (also the male in autumn and 



142 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

winter) is a streaky, brownish, sparrow-like bird, with a distinct 
whitish patch on the wings, in the position of the wing coverts. 
This is a common bird of the Plains east of the Rocky Mountains. 

Length, 6£; wing, 3| (3^-3i) ; tail, 3; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, a. Middle 
Kansas to Manitoba, common east of the Rockies, but to be found all the 
way to the Pacific, and south to Lower California. Accidental in some 
eastern states (Mass., N. Y., S. C). 

FAMILY XIV. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. (ICTERITLE) 

A family (100 species) of American walking birds, which 
vary greatly in sizes, habits, and colors. Our species are quite 
naturally and easily separated into four subfamilies, under 
which the characteristics will be given. (1) Marsh Blackbirds. 
Medium-sized, generally black-colored, conical-billed birds, liv- 
ing mainly on the ground of marsh, meadow, or prairie. These 
birds congregate together in great numbers, different species 
in the same flock. Nos. 1-4. (2) Meadow Starlings. These 
are long-conical-billed, short-tailed birds, with their plumage 
consisting mainly of browns and yellows. Their name indi- 
cates their meadow-living habits. No. 5. (3) Orioles. This 
group comprises brightly colored, tree-loving, song birds, with 
very sharp-pointed, elongated bills. 1 The orioles build wonder- 
fully woven hanging nests of fibrous materials. The plumage 
of the males is mainly black, strikingly relieved with other 
colors, among which are orange, chestnut, yellow, and white. 
All the species are pleasing singers, and some have peculiarly 
rich and flexible voices. Nos. 6 and 7. (4) Grackles and Crow 
Blackbirds. A group of large to medium, ground-running, 
black-plumaged birds, with long, sharp-pointed, somewhat 
curved bills. 2 The black colors are often richly bronzed with 
green, blue, and other tints. Their nests are rude and bulky, 
and their notes, in most cases, far from musical. Many of the 
species are to be found in flocks, throughout the year. Nos. 
8-12. Many species of the family vary much in the sizes of 
the males and females. In the dimensions given under the 
different species the smaller numbers refer to the females. 




FAM. XIV. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 143 

Key to the Species 

* Culmen, 1 or more long ; a black crescent-shaped spot on the breast ; 

lower parts with much yellow ; tail with acute feathers and over an inch 
shorter than the wings ; under tail feathers white ... 5. Meadowlark. 

* Culmen less than f long ; tail feathers acute at tip, and the under ones 

without white ; tail about an inch shorter than the wings. 1. Bobolink. 

* Tail feathers usually rounded at tip, never very acute. (A.) 

A. Bill very stout, decidedly more than half as high at base as long ; 
head and neck seal-brown, rest of plumage black {male) or general 

plumage brownish {female) 2. Cowbird. 

A. Bill less stout, usually less than half as high at base as long ; never 
much more than half. (B.) 
B. Culmen, 1 or more long ; bill with its tip conspicuously decurved ; 2 
tail with its under feathers f-4 inches shorter than the 
middle ones ; no bright yellow or orange in the plum- 
age. (E.) 
B. Culmen, f-1 long ; tail with the under feathers not over f 

inch shorter than the middle ones. (C.) 
B. In the extreme south there may be found birds with culmen f- 

and with the under tail feathers over f shorter than the middle ones. 
These all have yellow or orange in their plumage and are described 

under Xo. 7 .7. Hooded Oriole and Audubon's Oriole. 

C. Black, with red or reddish shoulder patch {male), or rusty and 
black streaked, with the under parts conspicuously black and white 

streaked {female) 4. Red-winged Blackbird. 

C. Black, with yellow head and breast and large white wing patch 
{male), or brownish-black with yellowish head and breast and small 

white wing patch {female) 3. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

C. Black throughout with more or less of rusty tips to the feathers 
{male), or slate-color with feathers sometimes rusty tipped {female). 

8. Rusty Blackbird, or 9. Brewer's Blackbird. 

C. Not as above ; bill slender, less than half as high as long ; 1 plum- 
age with some distinct vellow, oranse, or chestnut. 

(D-) 
D. Under tail feathers about a half inch shorter than the 

middle ones 6. Orchard Oriole. 

D. Under tail feathers nearly as long as the middle ones 

7. Baltimore Oriole. 

E. Tail with the under feathers less than If inches shorter than the 

middle ones ; wings and tail of about equal length 

10. Purple Grackle. 

E. Tail with the under feathers over If inches shorter than the middle 

ones; wings and tail of about equal length. 12. Boat-tailed Grackle. 

E. Tail decidedly longer than the wings and with its under feathers 

2|-3i inches shorter (Texas) 11. Great-tailed Grackle. 




144 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



1. Bobolink (494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus). — Male in spring. 
A common meadow blackbird with white rump and shoulders ; 

golden brown on the back of 
the head, and acute-tipped tail 
feathers. Female (also male in 
the autumn) much like an 
olive-colored streaky sparrow, 
with buffy belly, but with 
pointed tips to its tail feath- 
ers; wings and tail blackish- 
brown, the back streaked black 
and buffy-olive ; crown black- 
ish with a lighter central stripe, 
and all under parts buffy, 
slightly streaked on the sides. 
This is a wonderful singer 
throughout May and June, but 
during the rest of the year the 
notes are confined to merely a 
call of ckinJc. The remarkable 
change of plumage in the male is accomplished by two com- 
plete molts each year. (Eeedbird ; Eicebird.) 

Length, 1\ ; wing, 3| 
(3 1 -4) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 
1 ; culmen, f or less. 
North America west to 
Utah; breeding from 
southern New Jersey 
north to Ontario, and 
wintering south of the 
United States. 

2. Cowbird (495. 
Mdlothrus ctter). — A 
common, small, 
brown-headed black- 
bird, with feathers having a metallic gloss. The female is 
brownish-gray throughout, but lighter below and much smaller 




Bobolink 




Bobolink 




FAM. XIV. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 145 

in size. This bird, like the cuckoo of Europe, builds no nest of 
its own, but deposits its eggs one at a time, in the nests of other, 
generally smaller, 
species. Many of 
these hatch and 
rear the young cow- 
birds; though some 
abandon the nests 
into which the eggs 
are placed, others 

throw out the eggs, ■ • 

and still others build Cowbird 

new nests over the one containing the parasite's egg. (Cow 

Blackbird.) 

Length, 7| ; wing, 4\ (3|— 4|) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, f . Whole 
United States and southern Canada ; breeding throughout, and wintering 
in the Gulf States and Mexico. The Dwarf Cowbird (495 a . M. a. obsciirus) 
of Texas to Lower California is very similar, though smaller. Wing of 
female, S\ ; tail, 2\. The Red-eyed Cowbird (496. Callothrus robustus), 
found in southern Texas to Central America, is larger. The male is black 
with much bronzy luster, and the female brownish-gray, somewhat glossy 
on the back. Length, 9 ; wing, 4| (4-4|) ; tarsus, 3J-3| ; culmen, f. 

3. Yellow-headed Blackbird (497. Xanthocephalus xanthoce- 
phalus). — A western, ground-living, orange-yellow T -headed 

blackbird, with a 

blotch of white near 

the bend of the wing. 

The breast and neck 

are also yellow, but 

the lores and chin are 

black. The female is 

a grayish-brown bird, 

with most of the head 

and breast a dirty 

Yellow-headed Blackbird yellow or yellowish 

white. These birds gather together in companies and associate 

with cowbirds, and like them are often found on the ground 

apgar's birds. — 10 




146 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



among cattle and horses, 
the least musical. 



Their notes are harsh and not in 



Length, 9-11 ; wing, 5| (4£-5f ) ; tail, 41 ; culmen, |. Western North 
America, from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Texas to the Pacific ; wintering in 
the Southern States and southward, accidental in some of the Atlantic 
States. 

4. Red-winged Blackbird (498. Agelaius (le-us) phoenlceus). — 
A very common, middle-sized blackbird, with the bend of the 

wing bright red. The 
red of the wing shades 
oft' to a buff. The fe- 
male is a speckled or 
streaky brown. The 
back is made up of 
rusty, buffy, and black, 
and the under parts 
are of black and white. 
These birds are usually 
seen in flocks in reedy 
marshes and meadows. 
In the early spring, the 
males and females are 
found in separate com- 
panies. The notes are 
a rich and clear con- 
quarree-e. In July, after the short, nesting season, these birds 
again gather in flocks which usually contain several of the 
different species of blackbirds. (Swamp Blackbird.) 

Length, 7i-10 ; wing, 3|— 5 ; tail, 2f-4 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, f-1. North 
America north to Great Slave Lake ; breeding nearly throughout, and win- 
tering mainly in the Southern States. The Sonoran Redwing (498 a . A. 
p. sonoriensis) of southern Texas, California, and northern Mexico aver- 
ages a little larger, has a smaller bill, and the female is lighter colored, — 
especially the lower parts, which are mainly white, with fewer dusky 
markings. The Bahaman Redwing (498 b . A. p. bryanti) of southern 
Florida and the Bahamas averages a little smaller and has a larger bill. 
In this variety the culmen of the male is a full inch in length, and the 
female has the crown marked with a pale medium stripe. 




Bed-winged Blackbird 



FAM. XIV. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



147 




Meadowlark 



5. Meadowlark (501. Sturnella mdgna). — A somewhat large, 
common, ground-living, speckled-brown-backed, yellow-bellied 
bird, with a crescent-shaped black spot on the breast, and 
white under tail feathers. This 
is an abundant bird of the fields, 
meadows, and marshes. Its notes 
vary much for locality and sea- 
son, as well as individually, and 
many attempts have been made 
to write out, in syllables and 
musical notes, its song. One 
of the attempts is, " Spring-o'- 
the-year." (Field-lark.) 

Length, 8-11 ; wing, 4-5; tail, 2|~ 
3 1 ; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, 1-1|. United 
States from the Plains eastward ; breed- 
ing from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, 
and wintering coastwise and along 
rivers from Xew Jersey southward. 
The Mexican Meadowlark (501 a . S. m. mexicana) of southern Texas to 
Central America is a smaller bird, with proportionally larger feet ; wing, 

3f-4f ; culmen, 1-1 £ ; tar- 
sus, If. The Western 
Meadowlark (501 b . S. m. 
neglecta) of the western 
United States from Wis- 
consin to Texas, and west 
to the Pacific, is a duller 
and paler bird, with a 
generally grayish appear- 
ance ; the yellow of the 
throat spreads over the 
cheeks. The size aver- 
ages larger. Wing, 4i-5i. 

6. Orchard Oriole 

(506. Icterus spurius). 
— A bright-chestnut- 
bodied bird, with 
black head, 




Orchard Oriole 



upper 
back, wings, and tail. The black of the head extends to the 



148 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



breast. The female is olive-green above, dull-yellow below, 
and has blackish wings, with two whitish wing bars. The 
olive-green is very bright on the head and rump. The young 
male begins to get the black on the throat during his second 
year ; the under parts have a few spots of chestnut in the yel- 
low. As its name indicates, it is generally to be found among 
orchard trees, but any separated trees of our lawns and parks 
suit it as well. It is an active, frolicsome bird, and a wonder- 
fully sweet singer of short, rich, and flexible notes. Like the 
next species, it weaves its nest of fibrous material, and sus- 
pends it near the extremity of a limb, but makes it of a more 
globular form. 

Length, 5^-7^ ; wing, 2|-3|; tail, 2|— 3^ ; tarsus, | ; culmen, f. United 
States from the Plains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf of Mexico to 
Ontario, and wintering south of the United States to northern South 
America. 

7. Baltimore Oriole (507. Icterus g&lbula). — A beautiful 
orange-red-bodied bird, with black head, upper back, and wings. 

The tail is orange, 
with some black 
near the base, and 
the wings have some 
white on the coverts 
and quills. The fe- 
male is dull-orange 
below, mottled 
brown on the up- 
per part including 
wings and head ; 
rump and tail yel- 
lowish and wing 
bars white. This bird weaves a wonderful hanging nest of 
fibers, which it usually places near the ends of limbs twenty to 
forty feet from the ground. The song is an agreeable one of 
five to ten rich, mellow, though rather shrill notes. (Firebird ; 
Bangnest; Golden "Bobin.") 




Baltimore Oriole 



FAM. XIV. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 149 

Length, 7-8| ; wing, 3|-3| ; tail, 2|— 3| ; tarsus, |- ; culmen, f nearly. 
United States from about the Rocky Mountains eastward ; breeding from 
the Gulf of Mexico to Ontario, and wintering south of the United States to 
Central America. The Hooded Oriole (505. Icterus cucullatus) of south- 
ern Texas to Central America is an orange-colored bird with black wings, 
black tail, and a peculiar black hood covering the face and throat ; the wings 
have white blotches on coverts and quills. The female lacks the black 
mask, but both sexes can be separated from all of our other orioles except 
the next, by the fact that the tail is longer than the wings. Wing, 3|-3| ; 
tail, 3|-4*. It can be separated from Audubon's by the size. Audubon's 
Oriole (503. icterus audubbnii) is found from southern Texas to Central 
Mexico. It is a very large, black-headed, orange-bodied oriole with black 
wings, tail, breast, etc. Length, 8f-10| ; wing, 3f-4i ; tail, 4-4| ; 
culmen, 1. 

8. Rusty Blackbird (509. Scolecdphagus caroTinus). — A com- 
mon, medium-sized, glossy, bluish-black bird (in spring) with 
all the tail feathers of 

nearly equal length. 

In the autumn and 

winter the black is 

much hidden by the 

rusty-brown tips to 

the feathers. The 

female in spring is 

glossy slate-colored, 

but in the autumn 

Eusty Blackbird 
and winter she, like 

the male, is rusty. This is a quiet, ground-living, swamp- 
loving species. (Eusty Grackle.) 

Length, 8i-9f ; wing, 4i-5 ; tail, 31-4^ ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, f . North 
America from the Plains eastward ; breeding from northern New York 
northward, and wintering from New Jersey southward. 

9. Brewer's Blackbird (510. Spolecdphagus cyanoceplialus). — 
A western blackbird similar to the last, but larger and with a 
conspicuous violet-purple iridescence to the head. The bill is 
stouter, and there are less rusty tips to the feathers at all 
seasons. Female, glossy slate-colored w r ith a decided brownish 
tint near the head. (Blue-headed Blackbird.) 




150 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 8§-10£ ; wing, 4f-5£ ; tail, 3§-4£; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, f. West- 
ern North America from the Plains to the Pacific. Accidental in Illinois. 

10. Purple Grackle (511. Quiscalus quiscula). — A common, 
large, iridescent blackbird, with brilliant metallic reflections of 
greens and blues, arranged in bars on the back, rump, and belly. 
The female is much duller, but still a blackbird and somewhat 

(iridescent. This is a 
oomy bird with 
crackling notes which 
can hardly be called 
a song. (Crow Black- 
bird.) 

Length, 11-13! ; wing, 
4|-6 ; tail, 4-|-6, gradu- 
ated, 1£ ; tarsus, If ; cul- 
men, 1^. Mainly east of 
the Alleghanies; breeding 
north to Massachusetts, 
and wintering from New 
Jersey south. The Flor- 
ida Grackle (51 l a . Q. q. 
aglaius) of the southern 
Purple Grackle portion of Gulf States, 

from Florida to Texas, is 
smaller and the head is decidedly violet-purple by reflections, and the 
back a rich green. The iridescent bars are not so distinct, though readily 
recognized. The female differs from the last only in being smaller. 
Length, 10-12; wing, 5-5 1 ; tail, 4i-5i; culmen, \\. The Bronzed 
Grackle (51 l b . Q. q. alliens) of the region east of the Rocky Mountains 
to the Alleghanies, north to Newfoundland and Great Slave Lake, and 
south to Texas, differs from the purple grackle more in the lack of irides- 
cent bars on the bronze-colored back than in any other feature. The female 
is almost without metallic reflections and never has the iridescent bars. 

11. Great-tailed Grackle (512. Quiscalus macrourus). — A 
very large, long-tailed, glossy-black bird with metallic-violet 
tints over the head, breast, back, and wing coverts, but without 
iridescent bars. Female a dark brown with metallic-greenish 
gloss on the back ; the head almost without gloss. 

Length, ll|-18i ; wing, 5f-8 ; tail, 5|-9f ; culmen, 
Texas to Central America. 




FAM. XVI. JAYS, CROWS, MAGPIES, ETC. 151 

12. Boat-tailed Grackle (513. Quiscalus mctjor). — A very- 
large, southern, beautifully metallic, bluish-black bird, with 
the head and breast more purplish, and the wings and tail 
less so. The female is much smaller in size; and brown in 
color, the lower parts being lighter. These birds are found in 
flocks in marshy places or near the water. 

Length, 11^-17| ; wing, 5|-7| ; tail, 5-7| ; culmen, 1^-lf. The smaller 
numbers are the dimensions of females. Regions along the Atlantic and 
Gulf coasts from Virginia to Texas. 

FAMILY XV. STARLINGS (STURNID^E) 

A family (200 species) of Old World birds one species of 
which has apparently been successfully introduced into this 
country. 

1. Starling (493. Sturnus vulgaris). — A yellow-billed, metal- 
lic-purplish, walking bird, much spotted with buff ; the wings, 
tail, and under tail coverts are dark brownish-gray more or less 
edged with buff. In ivinter the bill changes to dark brown 
and the entire under parts become heavily spotted with white. 
The bill is long and conical ; 1 the tail only about half as long as 
the wings ; and the first primary quill less than one inch long. 4 

Length, 8^ ; wing, 5 ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, 1. Europe and 
northern Asia. Introduced and apparently established in the vicinity of 
New York City. 

FAMILY XVI. JAYS, CROWS, MAGPIES, ETC. (CORVID^) 

A large family (200 species) of rather large, heavy-billed, 
peculiarly intelligent birds, with the nostrils generally well cov- 
ered with bristly feathers. 2 They have been divided into five 
subfamilies two of which are found almost everywhere. (1) The 
Jays are large, brightly marked, and usually brightly colored, 
saucy, noisy birds, with short, rounded wings and long, grad- 
uated tails. 3 With hardly any exceptions their voices are 





152 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

harsh and discordant. -Nos. 1-4. (2) The Crows are large, 
dark-colored (ours are black), walking birds, with long, pointed 
wings, short, nearly square tails, and unmusical cawing voices. 
As they can eat almost all vegetable and animal foods in 
almost any condition, they can be found nearly everywhere at 
all seasons. They usually associate together in large numbers. 
Their nests are rude and bulky. Nos. 5-8. 

Key to the Species 

* Tail only f as long as the pointed wings ; plumage black. (B.) 

* Tail, 1-3 inches shorter than the wings ; plumage not black ; 

extreme western. (C.) 

* Tail, as long or longer than the rounded wings. 1 (A.) 

A. Tail, 2 or more inches longer than the wings ; no crest 

colors black and white ; wings over 7 long 

1. American Magpie. 

A. Head crested ; general color blue; tail tipped with white; a black 

breast patch 2. Blue Jay. 

A. No crest ; general colors blue and gray ; tail without white tip 

3. Florida Jay. 

A. No crest ; general color gray ; no blue or green in the plumage 

4. Canada Jay. 

A. Slightly crested ; blue and black-headed, green-backed, yellow- 
bellied bird. The Green Jay (483. Xanthoura luxubsa) of eastern 
Mexico has been seen in southern Texas. 
B. Wings, 15 or more long; culmen, 2i-3| long; neck feathers narrow 

and pointed 5. Northern Raven. 

B. Wings, 13-15 ; culmen, 2-2f ; neck feathers narrow and pointed, 
and those of the back neck peculiarly white at base. Extreme 

western 6. White-necked Raven 

B. Wings, 11^-14; culmen, lf-2 ; neck feathers not sharp pointed 

7. American Crow 

B. Wings, 10-11J ; culmen, l|-lf ; neck feathers not sharp pointed 

.8. Fish Crow 

C. Plumage, mainly gray ; wings, glossy black 

Clark's Nutcracker (8) 

C. Plumage, mainly dull blue Pifion Jay (8) 

1. American Magpie (475. Pica pica hudsonica). — A large, 
western, long-tailed, brightly iridescent black bird, with white 
shoulders, tip of wings, and belly. It is generally a ground- 
living, noisy bird, with an infinite variety of notes, harsh and 
pleasant, discordant and musical, squeaky and gurgling. 



FAM. XVI. JAYS, CROWS, MAGPIES, ETC. 



153 



Length, 15-22; wing, 7|-8i; tail, 9^-12; tarsus, If; culmen, \\. 
Northern and western North America from the Plains to the Cascade 
Mountains, and from Alaska to New 
Mexico. Casually or accidentally 
in Michigan and northern Illinois. 



2. Blue Jay (477. Cyanocitta 
cristclta). — A very common, 
large, noisy, crested, brightly 
marked, blue bird, with white 
throat, belly, and tips of outer 
tail feathers. The wings and 
tail are barred with black, and 
the neck has a black collar. 
This very beautiful species has 
more bad traits than can here 
be mentioned ; among them are 
its fondness for eggs and nest- 
lings. It has niany notes of its 
own, and is a mimic, imitating 
the notes of a number of other birds 




American Magpie 



Length, 11| ; wing, 5^ (5-6) ; tail, b\ ; tarsus, If ; culmen, 1. North 
America from the Plains eastward and from Florida to the fur countries. 

About resident throughout. 
The Florida Blue Jay (477 a . 
C. C. florincola) of the 
Gulf coast region, from 
Florida to Texas, is smaller, 
grayer in color, and has 
the under tail feathers less 
tipped with white (usually 
-*■ -. 'SfcL^v under 1 inch). Wing, 



3. Florida Jay (479. 

Apheldcoma jioridhna). 

Blue Jay — A lar g e > vei T nois J> 

brownish-bodied, gray- 
ish-blue bird, with whitish under parts. There is a tint 
of blue on the sides of the breast and across the breast. 




154 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



This jay is generally to be found on the ground, except when 
disturbed. 



Length, 111, r.m 5 , ^ v^"¥ 
north of the center near the coasts 



tail, 



tarsus, li : culmen ,1. Florida, 



4. Canada Jay (484. Perisdreus canadensis). — A large, north- 
ern, loose-plumaged, gray bird, with the head mainly white, 

except the nape, 
which is blackish. 
The throat and sides 
of the neck are white, 
and the gray quills 
of the wings and 
tail are somewhat 
tipped with white. 
This, like all the jays, 
is a noisy bird, making many harsh and shrieking calls and 
uttering a few musical notes. (Whisky Jack ; Gray Jay.) 




Canada Jay 



culmen 1. Northern 
Not at all migratory ; 



Length, 11| ; wing, 5| ; tail, 5| ; tarsus, If 
Michigan to northern New England northward, 
straggling • from its 
home but very rarely. 
Has been seen as far 
south as central Penn- 
sylvania. 

5. Northern Ra- 
ven (486 a . Cdrvus 
cdrax principalis). 
— A somewhat 
rare, very large, 
crow-like black 
bird, twice the size 
of the common 
crow. The black 
everywhere shows 
bluish, metallic reflections. The feathers of the throat are 
narrow, pointed, and peculiarly independent of each other, not 




Northern Eaven 



FAM. XVI. JAYS, CROWS, MAGPIES, ETC. 155 

blended as is usually the case. When seen with crows, ravens 
can readily be recognized by the great difference in size, but 
when seen alone there is difficulty in distinguishing them, as the 
distance they are away is not easily determined. (Raven.) 



Northern North America, not migratory, south to Michigan, New Jersey, 
and along the Alleghanies to North Carolina. 

6. White-necked Raven (487. Cbrvus cryptoleucus). — A bird 

similar to the last, but smaller and with the feathers of the 

back neck white at base. 

Length, 20 ; wing, 14 ; tail, 8 ; tarsus, 1\ ; culmen, 2\. Texas to 
southern California and northern Mexico. 

7. American Crow (488. Cdrvus americtlnus). — A very abun- 
dant, large, black bird which is found in flocks everywhere, 
and can be recognized by 
its call notes of " caw-w, 
caw-w." Though the crow 
has few friends and, were 
it not for his remarkable 
ability to escape the gun- 
ner, would soon become 
extinct, it seems to thrive 
under all circumstances 
and in all situations. Act- 
ing as though afraid of 
nothing, it always knows 
how to secure its own 
safety. In the winter 
the crows roost in im- 
mense colonies in particu- 
lar places ; during the day 
they forage for food over a great extent of country, but at 
night all return to the regular place for rest. 

Length, 17-21 ; wing, 12| (llf-13£) ; tail, 7J ; tarsus, 2* ; culmen, If. 
North America, south to Mexico ; wintering from the northern United 
States southward. The Florida Crow (488 a . C. a. floridanus) has the bill 
and feet comparatively larger. Tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, 2\. Florida. 




American Crow 



156 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

8. Fish Crow (490. Cdrvus ossifragus). — Almost exactly like 
the last, but smaller. This is a brighter, cleaner, smoother- 
plum aged bird, with more metallic-purplish reflections on the 
back and somewhat greenish ones below. The voice is differ- 
ent, but the difference cannot be readily described. 

Length, 15-17; wing, 10-11 |; tail, 6i ; tarsus, If ; culmen, If. At- 
lantic and Gulf coasts from Connecticut to Louisiana, mainly resident. 
Clark's Nutcracker (491. Nucifraga columbiana). — A large, gray, crow- 
like bird with wings glossy black, except the white tips of the secondaries ; 
and the tail white, except the black middle feathers. Length, 12| ; wing, 
1\ ; tail, 5; tarsus, If; culmen, 1|. Western North America from the 
Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, mainly in evergreen forests. Accidental 
in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. The Pinon Jay (492. Cyanocephalus 
cyanocephalus) of the high lands between the Rocky Mountains and the 
Sierra Nevada is a large, dull- blue bird, with the head somewhat brighter. 
It has been seen both in eastern Kansas and eastern Nebraska. It is 
peculiar for this family in that its nostrils are not covered with bristly 
feathers. 

FAMILY XVII. LARKS (ALAUDLD^) 

A family (100 species) of almost exclusively Old World 
ground birds with the nail of the hind toe very long 
and nearly straight, 1 and the inner secondaries much 
lengthened. 2 It is represented in North America 
by but one species, if we except the noted singer, 
the European skylark, which has been brought into 
this country and allowed to escape several times, and 
is thought to be established on Long Island. 

Key to the Species 

* First primary about as long as the longest ; tail nearly even at tip ; 

sides of head with a peculiar tuft of elongated black feathers 

1. Horned Lark. 

* First primary short ; tail decidedly notched at tip Skylark (1). 

• 

1. Horned Lark (474. Otdcoris alpestris). — A chocolate- 
backed, ground-running, mainly winter bird, with distinct black 
and yellow marks on the head and breast. The under parts 
are whitish, and the black tail feathers are somewhat margined 




FAM. XVII. LARKS 



157 



with white. The black mark from the bill to the eye and then 
downward along the side neck, and the black breast patch, 
can generally be seen, though in winter there is a veiling of 
the black by whitish tips to the feathers. The horned larks 
are usually found in flocks along the seacoast and in the open 
tracts of the interior. They sing both when at rest and when 
on the wing ; they usually whistle a short note when taking 
wing, and frequently 
after a short flight 
return to the same 
spot from which they 
started. (Shore Lark.) 




Length, 7| ; wing, 4| 

(4-4|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, 

| ; culmen, \. There are 

ten named varieties of this 

species in North America, 

three of which are to be Horned Lark 

found in the region covered 

by this book. The form above described ranges through northeastern 

North America, around Hudson Bay, and winters south to Illinois, the 

Carolinas, etc. The Prairie Horned Lark (474 b . 0. a. praticola) is slightly 

paler in color, somewhat smaller in size, and has less yellow about the 

head and breast, sometimes almost none, the line over the eye being white. 

It is distributed over the 
upper Mississippi Val- 
ley, around the Great 
Lakes, and New Eng- 
land, breeding mainly 
in the northeastern por- 
tion of New England, 
and wintering south to 
Texas and South Caro- 
lina. Wing, 3f - 41. 
The Desert Horned Lark 
(474°. O. a. arenicola) 
of the Plains and west- 
ward, and southward in 
winter to Mexico, is a 
paler-colored bird, but 

with the breast distinctly, often brightly, primrose-yellow. Wing, 4-4|. 

The Texan Horned Lark (474 d . 0. a. giraudi) of eastern Texas has the back 




Skylark 




158 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

a decided grayish color and the breast pale yellow, more or less dotted 
with grayish brown. The throat and line over eye are also a light yellow. 
Wing, 3i-3|-. The Skylark (473. Alauda arvensis) of Europe and Asia 
may have been successfully started breeding on Long Island. It can be 
known by the short first primary, the notched tail, and the lack of the 
black, elongated feathers above the eyes. Its general color is a dull 
brown, much streaked both above and below. Length, 1\ ; wing, 3f-4| ; 
tail, 2\ ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, \. 



FAMILY XVIII. FLYCATCHERS (TYRNANID^E) 

A large family (350 species) of American perching birds, 
with a broad, depressed, notched bill, slightly hooked at tip ; 1 
and almost no vocal powers. The flycatchers can be 
distinguished from most other birds by their peculiar 
method of feeding. They perch on some outlying 
twig or other support, watching for their prey ; when 
a passing insect is seen, they dart out, seize it with a charac- 
teristic click of the bill, and in an instant return to their old 
station, ready for another victim. Other birds (warblers, etc.) 
catch insects on the wing, but have not this deliberate plan ; 
they chase their prey. These solitary birds are to be found 
wherever there are trees and bushes, but are most abundant 
in the tropics. The sexual and seasonal differences are but 
slight, but in nesting habits there are great variations. 

Key to the Species 

* Bird over 11 long, with tail over 6 long, and deeply forked. 

— Cap ashy 1. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. 

— Cap black Fork-tailed Flycatcher (1). 

* Bird, 8-11 long; wing, 4i-5| long; crown of adult with a partially 

concealed patch of bright yellow or red, which can be seen by dis- 
placing the feathers. (G.) 

* Head somewhat crested ; wing and tail feathers with much chestnut on 

their edges ; no concealed crown patch of bright color 

5. Crested Flycatcher. 

* Not as above. (A.) 

A. Wing, 2-31 long. (E.) 
A. Wing, 3-31 long. (C.) 
A. Wing, 31-41 long. (B.) 



FAM. XVIII. FLYCATCHERS 159 

B. Wing about an inch longer than the tail ; a tuft of fluffy, cotton-like 
feathers on the flanks at base of tail ; sides, breast, and back olive- 
brown; throat and belly about white 9. Olive-sided Flycatcher. 

B. Grayish-brown above, paler below, and with cinnamon color on the 

lower belly ; tail, bill, and feet black 7. Say's Phoebe. 

B. Blackish-brown, darkest on head and breast ; belly abruptly white ; 

wings less than \ inch longer than the tail. 8. Black Phoebe. 

C. Wings and tail nearly equal in length ; entire bill black ; under 

tail coverts yellowish-white 6. Phoebe. 

C. Wings \ inch or more longer than the tail. (D.) 
D. Olive-brown above, darker on the head ; olive-gray on the sides and 

nearly across the breast ; throat and belly nearly white 

10. Wood Pewee or 11. Western Wood Pewee. 

D. Slightly crested bird with crest and under parts red (male), or upper 
parts including crest dull brown, and under parts white, tinged with 
red or orange (female). The Vermilion Flycatcher (471. Pyoce- 
phalus rubineus mexicanus) of Mexico has been seen in southern 
Texas, Arizona, and Utah. 
E. Belly sulphur-yellow ; throat and breast greenish-yellow ; back 

olive-green without a shade of brown 

12. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. 

E. Under parts but slightly tinged with yellow. (F.) 
F. Back olive-green without tint of brownish ; head slightly crested ; 

throat white ; lower mandible light yellow 

13. Green-crested Flycatcher. 

F. Back olive with more or less of brownish tint. 

— Wing, 2i-3 long 14. Traill's and Alder Flycatcher. 

— Wing, 2i-2f long 15. Least Flycatcher. 

— Wing, 2-2i long (south Texas) Beardless Flycatcher (15). 

G. No distinct yellow below ; all tail feathers abruptly tipped with 

white 2. Kingbird. 

G. No distinct yellow below ; no abrupt white tips to the tail feathers ; 

5 or 6 of the outer primaries abruptly narrowed near tips 

3. Gray Kingbird. 

G. Belly with distinct yellow ; tarsus and culmen each an inch or 

more long Derby Flycatcher (4) . 

G. Belly with distinct yellow ; tarsus and culmen each under one inch 
long. (H.) 
H. Outer web of outer tail feathers abruptly white. 4. Arkansas Kingbird. 
H. Outer web but slightly pale edged ; breast and belly bright yellow ; 

throat and chin white ; tail notched a half inch. (Texas) 

Couch's Kingbird (3). 

1. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (443. MUvulus forficMus). — A 
beautiful, ashy-colored, small bird, having a deeply forked black 



160 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



tail, and rosy or white edgings and scarlet patches on the sides 
of the body. This graceful bird can be recognized for a great 
distance by its forked tail, and espe- 
cially so, as it has the habit of open- 
ing and closing the parts like a pair of 
scissors. 

Length, 12-15; wing,4| (4f-5|); tail, 7-12 ; 
tarsus, I ; culinen, •§-. Southwestern Mis- 
souri, through Texas, eastern Mexico to Cen- 
tral America. Accidental in New England, 
New Jersey, Florida, etc. The Fork-tailed 
Flycatcher (442. Milvulus tyrannus) is a 
beautiful, tropical American bird, which has 
accidentally wandered to various parts of the 
United States (New Jersey, Kentucky, Mis- 
sissippi, etc.). It is a black-capped, ashy- 
backed, black-tailed bird, with the lower parts 
white, and the outer webs of the outer tail 
feathers white for half their length. The tail 
is forked from 4-8 inches. 

2. Kingbird (444. Tyrannus tyran- 
nus). — A pale, slate-colored kingbird, 
with nearly white under parts, 
and black tail tipped with a 
broad band of white. The 
under parts have a wash of 
gray on the breast. The adult 
has a concealed orange -red 
patch on the crown; this is 
lacking in the young. This 
bird has the habit of perching 
in an exposed position, with 
the body upright, like a hawk, 
watching for its insect prey. 
If food is seen, it suddenly 
darts into the air, seizes it, and 
returns to the same perch. 
(Bee Martin.) 




Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 




FAM. XVIII. FLYCATCHERS 



161 



Length, 8 \ ; wing, 4f (4i-4§) ; tail, 3-J-; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. North 
America, north to New Brunswick and Manitoba ; breeding from the Gulf 
northward, and wintering in Mexico and northern South America. Rare 
west of the Rocky Mountains. 

3. Gray Kingbird (445. Tyrannies dominicensis). — An ashy- 
gray-backed kingbird, with white or whitish under parts ; the 
tail is blackish, slightly notched, and without the white termi- 
nal band. The under wing coverts are pale yellow. Habits 
much the same as the last, but its notes very different. 

Length, 9 ; wing, 4| ; tail, 3| ; culmen, f. South Atlantic States 
(South Carolina to Florida), West Indies to northern South America. 
Couch's Kingbird (446. Tyrannus melancJwlicus couchii), of Texas to 
Central America, has the breast and belly bright yellow, the throat white, 
the tail decidedly notched, and its outer feathers not white-edged. Length, 
9| ; wing, 4| ; tail, 4 ; culmen, f. 

4. Arkansas Kingbird (447. Tyrannus verticalis). — An olive- 
backed, yellow-bellied, ashy-headed kingbird, with a blackish 
square tail, without w r hitish tip. The outer web of the outer 
tail feathers entirely white, and the under wing coverts yellow r 
like the belly. 

Length, 9 ; wing, 5 (4|-5I) ; tail, 4; 
tarsus, f ; culmen, f. Western United 
States from the Plains to the Pacific. 
Accidental in Maine, New Jersej^, Mary- 
land, etc. The Derby Flycatcher (449. 
Fitangus derbianus), of southern Texas to 
northern South America, is an olive- 
brown-backed, yellow-bellied bird, with 
the top and sides of head black, a white 
line over the eye to the nape, and a yel- 
low crown patch. The chin and throat 
are white, and the under wing coverts 
lemon-yellow like the belly. The culmen 
and tarsus are each an inch long, and the 
wing and tail feathers extensively bor- 
dered with chestnut. 

5. Crested Flycatcher (452. Myidr- 
chus crmitus). — A crested, greenish- 
olive bird, with brown on head and 
wings and chestnut on tail ; lower parts yellowy except the 

apgar's birds. — 11 




Crested Flycatcher 



162 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



ashy throat and breast ; two yellowish wing bars. This is a 
common woodland bird of quarrelsome nature, with a loud, 
piercing voice. It is noted for the habit of using snake skins 
in the structure of its nest. (Great-crested Flycatcher.) 

Length, 8| ; wing, 4 (3|~4f) ; tail, 3|- ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. Eastern 
United States and southern Canada west to the Plains ; breeding from 
Florida northward, and wintering south of the United States from Mexico 
to Central America. The Mexican Crested Flycatcher (453. Myidrchus 
mexicanus), of southern Texas to Central America, differs from the last 
in having a broad dusky stripe on the inner web along the shaft of the 
outer tail feathers. 

6. Phoebe (456. Saydrnis phoebe). — A common, crested, dull 
olive-brown bird, having the lower parts dull white, with the 
breast tinged with brownish-gray. The head 
is darker, almost blackish, the belly has a 
very slight tint of yellow, and the eye 
has a whitish ring around it. The name is 
derived from the sound of its note, which 
is uttered in a harsh and abrupt manner. 
(Pewee.) 

. Length, 7; wing, 3| (Sf-3|) ; tail, 3; tarsus, f; 

I » culmen, J. Eastern North America from Colorado 

II and Texas eastward ; breeding from South Carolina 

»1 northward, and wintering from the South Atlantic 

and Gulf States to Cuba and eastern Mexico. 

7. Say's Phoebe (457. Saydrnis sd,y a). — A 
western, grayish-brown bird, with the lower 
parts cinnamon-brown, darker on the throat. 
The tail, bill, and feet are black, and the wing 

bars whitish. This is a flycatcher of weedy and shrubby 

places rather than of wooded regions. 

Length, 7\ ; wing, 4 (3|-4|) ; tail, 3£ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, i. Western 
United States from the Plains to the Pacific, north to the Arctic Circle, 
south to Central America. Accidental in Massachusetts. 

8. Black Phoebe (458. Saydrnis nigricans). — A very dark, 
almost black, Texas bird, with the belly abruptly pure white. 
The head and breast are the blackest portions; the bill and 




Phoebe 



FAM. XVIIL FLYCATCHERS 



163 



feet are also black. The coloring is almost like that of the 

juncos. This is a flycatcher of wooded regions, especially the 

borders of rocky streams. 

Length, 6| ; wing, 3| (3|-3f); tail, 3^; tarsus, f ; culmen, \. South- 
western United States from Texas to Washington, south to Lower Cali- 
fornia and central Mexico. 

9. Olive-sided Flycatcher (459. Contdpus bore&lis). — A dusky, 
olive-brown bird, with the lower parts white, except the olive- 
brown sides, which give it its 
name ; the wing bars are very in- 
conspicuous, and there are curious 
tufts of fluffy feathers on the flanks, 
nearly white in color. This is a 
woodland bird found usually in 
the tree tops. 

Length, 71 ; wing, 4$ (3f4£) ; tail, 
3 ; tarsus, \ ; culmen, f . North America ; 
breeding from New England northward, 
and wintering from Mexico to northern 
South America. 

10. Wood Pewee (461. Contdpus 
virens). — A dusky, olive-brown- 
backed, whitish-bellied bird, with 
the head, wings, and tail blackish. 

The middle of the belly is yel- 

, . , . . ,, Olive-sided Flycatcher 

lowisn, a ring around the eye 

white, and the two wing bars whitish. This is, a very dark, 

almost fuscous-backed bird, while the yellowish-white under 

parts have some gray on the sides of throat and breast. It is 

necessary to note the lengths of wings and tail in order to 

separate this species from some other flycatchers. It is a 

common wood-living, retiring bird, with sweet, pensive notes 

sounding much like its name. 

Length, 6^ ; wing, 3| (3-3£) ; tail, 2J-i 2| ; tarsus, \ ; culmen, \. Eastern 
North America from the Plains ; breeding from Florida to southern Can- 
ada, and wintering south of the United States in eastern Mexico to 
Central America. 




164 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



11. Western Wood Pewee (462. Contdpas richardsdnii). — 
This is a bird similar to the -last, but darker and less olive- 
tinted on the back, with more of olive-gray across the breast, 
and less of yellowish on the belly. 



Length, 



wing, 3| (3|-3|) ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, J ; culmen, |. Western 



United States from the Plains to the Pacific, north to British Columbia, 
and south in winter to northern South America. 

12. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (463. Empiddnax flaviventris). 
— A small, dark olive-green-backed, yellow-bellied flycatcher, 

with the yellow breast, sides, and 
throat washed with much olive-green. 
The wings and tail are blackish, and 
the two wing bars whitish. This has 
more sulphur-yellow on the lower 
parts than any other of our fly- 
catchers. No other eastern species 
has yellow of any shade on the 
throat. It is practically only a mi- 
grant in the United States, and dur- 
ing migrations is almost voiceless. 
In its summer home in the northern 
evergreen forests its rather plain- 
tive call as well as its harsh, abrupt 
"pse-ek" can be heard. 




Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 



tarsus, | ; culmen, 



Length, 5^; wing, 2f (2|-2|) ; tail, 2 J ; 
North America from the Plains eastward; breed- 



ing from the northern border of the United States to Labrador, and 
wintering from eastern Mexico to the Isthmus. The Western Flycatcher 
(464. Empiddnax difficilis) of the western United States from the Plains 
to the Pacific is very much like the last, but less yellow below, and with 
buffy wing bars. The tail averages 2|. 

13. Green-crested Flycatcher (465. Empiddnax viriscens). — A 

slightly crested, dull-greenish-olive flycatcher, with the lower 
parts yellowish- white, and the distinct wing bars also yellowish- 
white. The breast has a slight tinge of green, the throat is 
white, and the wings and tail are blackish. The upper mandible 




FAM. XV III. FLYCATCHERS 165 

is black, and the lower one flesh-colored. It is an inhabitant 
of wet woodlands, and is usually to be found on the lower 
branches. Its notes 
are very distinct from 
those of other fly- 
catchers, but difficult 
to express in words. 
(Acadian Flycatcher.) 

Length, 5| ; wing, 2 J 
(2|-3J); tail, 2J ; tarsus, 
f ; culrnen, |. Eastern 
United States ; breeding 

. „ „ , , Green-crested Flycatcher 

southern ^Sew England 

and southern Michigan, and wintering south to Central America. 

14. Traill's Flycatcher (166. Empiddnax trMttii). — A small, 
western, slightly crested, olive-brown flycatcher, with ash-gray 
breast and sides, pale yellow belly, and two whitish wing 
bars. The wings and tail are blackish, the throat pure white, 
and the under mandible flesh color or whitish. It has more 
of a brownish shade than any other of our flycatchers. It is 
a silent, restless, retiring bird, frequenting bushy tracts instead 
of forests. 

Length, 6 ; wing, 2| (21-3) ; tail, 2J ; tarsus, f ; culrnen, f. Western 
North America from Ohio westward to the Pacific ; breeding from the 
northern border of the United States northward, and wintering in Mexico 
to northern South America, The Alder Flycatcher (466 a . E. t. alnbrum) 
of eastern North America is a variety with less of brown in the 
plumage ; breeding range from the mountain region of New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania northward, and wintering south to Central America (west 
to Michigan) . 

15. Least Flycatcher (167. Empiddnax minimus). — A very 
small, common, olive-backed, whitish-bellied flycatcher, with 
grayish breast and sides, and whitish wing bars. The lower 
mandible is brown, and there is almost no yellow on the 
belly. This is the smallest of the flycatchers. The second 
common name it has is derived from an attempt to write 
the sound of its notes. It lives generally in our orchards 



T 



166 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

and among our shade trees, rather than in the wild woods. 
(Chebec.) 

Length, b\ ; wing, 1\ (2i-2|) ; tail, 2^ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, T 9 g. Chiefly 
eastern North America, west to Colorado ; breeding from Pennsylvania to 
Quebec, and wintering in Central America. 

ORDER II. HUMMINGBIRDS, GOATSUCKERS, 
AND SWIFTS (MACROCHIRES) 

An order containing one large American family, the Hum- 
mingbirds, and two smaller ones of general distribution, the 
Goatsuckers and Swifts. 

FAMILY XIX. HUMMINGBIRDS (TROCHiLKLE) 

A family (400 species) of small, brightly colored, American, 
swiftly flying birds, living mainly on the insects and nectar 
found in flowers, which they obtain while on the wing. Their 
movements through the air are most swift and insect-like, the 
wings vibrating so rapidly as to be lost to the eye in a hazy 
mist. These birds are represented by many species in Mexico 
and South America, and several species are found west of the 
Eocky Mountains in the United States, but only one (if south- 
ern Texas is excluded) is to be found in the great region 
covered by this book. Nearly all, except some tropical forms, 
have weak, chippering, or squeaking voices. 

1. Ruby- throated Hummingbird (428. Trdchilus cdlubris). — A 
minute, long-billed, narrow-winged, greenish-colored bird, seen 

hovering suspended 
over flowers or flitting 
rapidly from plant to 
plant. The male has 
a gorget, of brilliant, 
metallic, ruby-red ; this 
is wanting in the fe- 
male. The male has 




Ruby-throated Hummingbird 



a notched tail of narrow feathers, and the female one not 



FAM. XX. SWIFTS 167 

notched, of rounded, white-tipped feathers. This bird is seen 
by most people only when hovering over flowers in search of 
food, and is hence thought to be always on the wing. If care- 
fully watched, it will often be seen at rest on the twigs of 
tree tops. The only living forms which may be mistaken for 
hummingbirds are insects called hawk or sphinx moths. Most 
of these are found hovering over flowers in the evening; the 
hummingbirds visit the flowers in the daytime. 

Length, 3 ; wing, If (lj-lf) ; tail, 1^ ; culmen, f. North America 
from the Plains eastward ; breeding from Florida to Labrador, and win- 
tering in Cuba, eastern Mexico to Central America. Rieffer's Humming- 
bird (438. Amazilia fuscicaudata) of southern Texas to northern South 
America is a brilliant green hummingbird, with dark purplish wings and 
deep chestnut tail; the belly is gray. Length, 4; wing, 2\ ; tail, If; 
culmen, f. The Buff-bellied Hummingbird (439. Amazilia cerviniventris) 
of southern Texas to Central America is a similar green bird, with the 
belly pale cinnamon color. Length, 4^ ; wing, 2| ; tail, li; culmen, |. 

FAMILY XX. SWIFTS (MICROP6DID^) 

A family (75 species) of long-winged, close-feathered, small- 
bodied birds, with large, swallow-like or nighthawk-like mouths, 
and almost unri- 
valed power of 
flight. Almost the 
whole day is spent 
on the wing, catch- 
ing enormous num- 
bers of insects. 
These birds are 
found in immense 
flocks, especially 
when nesting or 
roosting. Chimney Swift 

1. Chimney Swift (423. Chcetura peldgica). — An ashy-black 
bird resembling the swallow, with very long wings and 
short, rounded, spiny-tipped tail. 1 In certain places 
where large, unused chimneys are found, great flocks 





Wf 



168 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

of these birds will be seen in the early morning, flying ont 
from the chimney top, and starting on their day's work of 
ridding the air of flying insects. In the evening all will be 
found returning, a steady stream, into the same roosting place. 
When resting on the inner wall of the chimney, the spiny tail 
is used as a support, much as the woodpeckers use their tails 
against the bark of tree trunks. (Chimney Swallow.) 

• Length, 5 ; wing, 5 ; tail, 2 ; culmen, i. North America from the 
Plains eastward ; breeding from Virginia to Labrador, and wintering 
south of the United States in Mexico. The White-throated Swift (425 
Aeronaiites melanoleitcus) of the western United States from southern 
Montana to the Pacific is a blackish- backed, swallow-like bird, with a 
short, stiff, but not spiny-tipped tail, and most of the lower parts white ; 
the male has the tail deeply notched. Length, 6| ; wing, 6 ; tail, 2\. 

FAMILY XXI. GOATSUCKERS, ETC. (CAPRIMULGID,E). 

A family (nearly 100 species) of large, dull, mottled gray 
and brown, loose-plumaged, insect-eating birds which have 
enormous mouths, though the culmen or upper ridge of the 
bill is remarkably short. 1 Their heads are pecul- 
H, (g) iarly large, broad, and flat, the legs small and weak, 
and the wings are rather long and pointed. They 
capture their prey while on the wing and, excepting 
during migrations, are solitary in their habits. The chuck- 
will's-widow has the widest mouth of any of our species ; the 
gape measuring two inches from side to side. This enables it 
to swallow the largest of insects, and even hummingbirds and 
small sparrows have been found in its stomach. The night- 
hawks lack the rictal bristles which are so conspicuous in the 
other birds of the family. Our species are practically noc- 
turnal birds, as silent in their flight as owls. During the day 
they recline rather than perch on limb of tree, or ground, in 
such position as to be entirely unnoticed, except by the most 
experienced observer. No nests are built or even hollows made, 
but the eggs are laid on the bare ground or on tree stumps. 
Their cries are among the most peculiar and striking of bird notes 
and from them many of the species derive their common names. 




FAM. XXL GOATSUCKERS 



169 



Key to the Species 

* Rictal bristles very small, \ inch or less long ; tail notched at tip ; 

wings with a conspicuous white spot (or tawny in the female of a 
Texas species). (B.) 

* Rictal bristles, \ inch or more long and branching with short lateral 

hairs ; wing, 7| or more long 1. Chuck- will' s-widow. 

* Rictal bristles long, but not branchiug. 1 (A.) 

A. Tail less than 2 inches shorter than the wing ; no white blotches on 

the wings, which are usually 6 or more long. . .2. Whip-poor-will. 

A. Tail fully 2 inches shorter than the wings ; no white blotches on 

the wings, which are less than 6 long 3. Poor-will. 

A. Tail about as long as the wings ; a large white blotch on the wings, 

which are 6-8 long Merrill's Parauque (3). 

B. Wing over ~t\ long 4. Nighthawk and Western Nighthawk. 

B. Wing, ~\ or less long. 5. Texas Nighthawk. Florida Nighthawk (4). 

1. Chuck-will' s-widow (416. Antrdstomus carolinensis). — A 

large, finely mottled, brownish bird resembling the whip-poor- 
will, without any pure white 
markings. The mouth is 
very large, and the rictal 
bristles long and with hair- 
like branches for half their 
length. The male has an 
indistinct whitish band 
across the throat, and the 
female a biiffy one. 

Length, 1H ; wing, 8^ (8-9) ; 
tail, 6 ; culmen, f . South Atlan- 
tic and Gulf States ; breeding from Illinois and North Carolina southward, 
and wintering from our southern border to Central America. Accidental 
in Massachusetts. 

2. Whip-poor-will (417. Antrdstomus vociferus). — A bird 
similar to the last, but smaller : the male is marked with a 

pure white collar, and 
the end half of each 
of the three outer tail 
feathers is white. 
The female has buff 

Whip-poor-will on neck and tail 




Chuck- will' s-widow 




170 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

feathers instead of white. The rictal bristles are long, but 
not branching. This bird flies and makes its whip-poor-will 
notes after sunset and before sunrise. It is a common, low- 
flying bird, much more frequently heard than seen. 

Length, 9| ; wing, 6 (5|~6|) ; tail, 4| ; culmen, f. North America 
from the Plains eastward ; breeding from Virginia, north to New Bruns- 
wick and Manitoba, and wintering from Florida to Central America. 

3. Poor- will (418 Phalwndptilus nuttdllii). — A western whip- 
poor-will, beautifully mottled with bronze-gray and silver- 
gray markings; both sexes have the white patch across the 
throat, and nearly white tips to the under tail feathers. In 
singing its notes the first syllable is dropped, and so this bird 
is called a poor-will. 

Length, 8 ; wing, 5| (5|-5|) ; tail, S\ ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. Western 
United States from Kansas and Montana, and southward and westward 
to Mexico. Merrill's Parauque (419. Nyctidromns albicollis merrilli). — 
A Texas species of very large size, long, rounded tail, and with a great 
white patch on the wings. The male has a broad white collar ; the female 
a less distinct buff one. The under tail feathers are more or less white at 
tip. Length, 10i-13i ; wing, 7 (6-7|) ; tail, §\ ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, f. 
Southern Texas to northeastern Mexico. 

4. Nighthawk (420. Chordeiles (di-les) virgini&nus). — A bat- 
like, night and evening flying, dark-colored, finely mottled 

bird, with conspicu- 
ous white patches at 
about the middle of 
the wings, looking 
like holes when the 
bird is flying. It dif- 

Nighthawk ferS fr0m the fore S°- 

ing species in flying 

high in the air, and in having almost no rictal bristles. It 
varies its flight with occasional dives toward the ground with 
wings nearly closed ; before reaching the earth there is a sud- 
den check in the speed, and a slow upward movement again 
to the former elevation. (Bull-bat.) 

Length, 9| ; wing, 7f (7f-8|) ; tail, 4f ; culmen, J. North America 




FAM. XXII. WOODPECKEBS 171 

from the Plains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf States to Labrador, 
and wintering in South America. The Western Nighthawk (420 a . C. v. 
henry i) of the western United States from the Plains westward is lighter 
colored and has the white spaces larger. The Florida Nighthawk (420 b . 
C. v. chdpmani) of Florida and the. Gulf coast to South America is 
smaller and has more numerous white and buff markings. Wing, 7-7 J ; 
tail, 4-4 i. 

5. Texan Nighthawk (421. Ghordelles acutipmnis texensis). — 
A southern, small, distinctly streaked and barred nighthawk 
with the white wing patch nearer the tips of the primaries than 
the bend of wing. The tail is blackish, crossed by grayish or 
tawny bars, with a complete white cross-bar near the tips of 
the feathers. The female has the wing patch tawny instead 
of white, and the white cross-bar of the tail is lacking. 

Length, 8| ; wing, 6f-7£ ; tail, 4-4|. Texas to southern California, 
south to Panama. 



ORDER III. WOODPECKERS, WRYNECKS (PICI) 

An order which with us includes only the following : 

FAMILY XXII. WOODPECKERS (PfCIDJS) 

A large family (350 species) of creeping or climbing birds 
with stiff, sharp-pointed tail feathers which are used as aids in 
supporting the body against the tree. 1 2 The toes are four in 
number ; two directed forward and two backward 3 (in a few 
exceptional species there are only three, two in front and one 
behind 4 ). These birds have stout, straight, chisel-pointed 
bills, 5 with which they are enabled to cut small holes in the 
wood for the purpose of securing insects, and large holes for 
nesting places. The tongue is peculiarly long, has a spear-like 
tip, and is so arranged that it can be thrust out to a wonderful 
distance. By its aid, the larvae of insects are secured and 
brought from their retreats under the bark. Woodpeckers 





172 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

have but poor vocal powers, and they make use of a tattoo with 
their bill for their love song. The eggs are in all cases white. 

Key to the Species 

* Head with a conspicuous crest ; large birds ; wings, 7| or more long. 

— Bill ivory-white 1. Ivory-billed Woodpecker. 

— Bill blackish 9. Pileated Woodpecker. 

* Head not crested ; wings less than 7| long. (A.) 

A. With only three toes ; two in front and one behind. 1 (G.) 
A. With four toes ; two in front and two behind. 2 (B.) 
B. Back very distinctly barred crosswise with black and 

white. (E.) 
B. Back not cross-barred, but with a broad central streak of ' 

white ; under parts white without spots or streaks. (D.) 
B. Back black without cross-bars or lengthwise streaks ; the 

rump may be white. (C. ) 
B. Back olive-brown with numerous black bars ; breast with 
a broad black crescent-shaped band ; belly whitish, with 

numerous round black spots ; wing, 5^ or more long 14. Flicker. 

B. Back irregularly variegated with black and yellowish ; belly with 

more or less of yellow 8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 

C. Secondary wing quills and rump wholly white (in the young nearly 
so) ; breast without broad black band ; head and neck of the adult 

red 10. Red-headed Woodpecker. 

C. Wing quills mainly black, but rump white ; a broad black band 

across breast, separating the white of throat and belly (extreme 

western). Californian Woodpecker (407. Jlelanerpes formicivorus 

bairdi) . 

C. Western species with wings, rump, back, and tail a beautiful 

bronzy-black 11. Lewis's Woodpecker. 

D. Wing less than 4\ long ; culmen less than 1 long ; under tail feathers 

white cross-barred with black 3. Downy Woodpecker. 

D. Wing over 4i long ; culmen over 1 long ; under tail feathers white 

without black .- 2. Hairy Woodpecker. 

E. Culmen, 1 or more long ; belly with reddish tinge 

12. Red-bellied Woodpecker. 

E. Culmen, 1 or more long ; belly without reddish 

13. Golden-fronted Woodpecker. 

E. Culmen less than 1 long. (F.) 
F. Wing, 4|-5i long ; a conspicuous white patch on the side of head and 

neck 4. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. 

F. Wing, 3-4 1 long ; the white of the side of the head and neck inclos- 
ing a curved black stripe 5. Texan Woodpecker. 

G. Back uniformly black 6. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. 

G. Back barred crosswise 7. American Three-toed Woodpecker. 



FAM. XXII. WOODPECKEBS 



173 



1. Ivory-billed Woodpecker (392. Campephihis principalis). — 
A large, scarce, southern, white-billed, distinctly crested, black 
woodpecker, with a white line on each side of neck and body 
and a white blotch on tips of secondaries. The crest of the 
male is scarlet, of the female black. This is a shy bird of the 
dense, southern, cypress forests. 

Length, 20 ; wing, 10 (9-10^) ; tail, 6|; tarsus, 2 ; culinen, 2|. Now 
found only locally in the lower Mississippi Valley and in the Gulf States. 

2. Hairy Woodpecker (393. Dryobates villosus). — A small, 
white-spotted woodpecker, with much black on the upper parts 
and white below. The white spots of 
the wings give them a barred appearance 
when the bird is at rest, and the white of 
the center of the back forms a longitudi- 
nal band ; the head has streaks of black 
and white. The male has a scarlet patch 
on the nape. The under tail feathers are 
white and not barred. 

Length, 9i; wing, 4f (41-5) ; tail, 3|; tar- 
sus, § ; culmen, li. Wandering but not migra- 
tory. Northern and middle portion of the United 
States from the Plains eastward. The Southern 
Hairy Woodpecker (393 b . D. v. audubdnii) of the 
South Atlantic and Gulf States is a smaller vari- 
ety and with less of white. Wing, 4§-4f ; tail, 3. 
There is a northern variety which has a wing 
5-5§ long found in the northern portions of North 
America. Hairy Woodpecker 

3. Downy Woodpecker (394. Dryobates pubescens). — A smaller, 
more common woodpecker than the last, but with almost the 
same arrangement of colors. This species has the white of the 
under tail feathers cross-barred with black. After becoming 
familiar with the notes of Nos. 2 and 3, one can distinguish them 
by their voices. As Mr. Brewster says, the downy woodpecker 
species "has a long unbroken roll," while the hairy woodpecker 
has "a shorter and louder one with a greater interval bet w sen 
each stroke." The downy woodpecker is much more abundant 




174 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

in settled regions, where it can be found in woodland, orchards, 
and even in the shade trees along the streets of the towns. 

Length, 6|j wing, 3| (31-4); tail, 2|; tarsus, £; culmen, | v North 
America from the Plains eastward, and south to the Gulf of Mexico. Not 
migratory. 

4. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (395. Dryobdtes boredlis). — A 
small, southern " ladder-backed " woodpecker, with white sides 

to the head and a scarlet 
tuft of feathers on each 
side of the crown, back of 
the eyes and above the 
white cheeks. The female 
lacks the scarlet. This 
inhabitant of the pine 
woods of the Southern 




Red-cockaded Woodpecker 



States has distinct black and white bands across the back, giv- 
ing the appearance of a ladder. The crown and band between 
the white cheeks and throat are black. 

Length, 8^; wing, 4| (4^-5); tail, 3i; culmen, f. North Carolina to 
eastern Texas, south to the Gulf. 

5. Texan Woodpecker (396. Dryobdtes scdlaris bdirdi). — A 
Texas "ladder-backed," gray-bellied woodpecker, with numer- 
ous small black spots on sides and crissum. The side of the 
head and neck is white, with a long, curved, black stripe ex- 
tending from the eye downward and forward to the bill. The 
male has more or less of red on the crown ; this is lacking in 
the female. 

Length, 7|; wing, 3f (3^-41); tail, 2f ; culmen, f. Southern portion 
of the United States from Texas to California, and south to the table-lands 
of Mexico. 

6. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker (400. Picdldes drcticus). — An 
extreme northern, medium-sized, orange-crowned, black-backed, 
white-bellied woodpecker, with very small white spots on the 
otherwise black wings ; outer tail feathers mainly white, and 
a line under the eye also white. The female has a black crown. 



FAM. XXII. WOODPECKERS 



175 




This active, restless bird takes long flights, with the character- 
istic undulating movements of woodpeckers in general, and at 
every glide gives out its shrill note, 
which sounds more like a mammal in 
pain, than like a bird. (Black-backed 
Woodpecker.) 

Length, 9^; wing, b\ (5-of); tail, 3i; cul- 
men, 1\. Northern North America, south to 
New England, Michigan, and Idaho. 

7. American Three-toed Woodpecker 
(401. Picoides amerkanus). — A north- 
ern bird, similar to the last, but hav- 
ing the center of the back cross-barred 
with black and white: the sides are 
also barred. The orange spot is found 
only in the crown of the male, the 
female having a black and white spotted 
crown. 

Length, 8|; wing, H (4|-4|) ; tail, 3|; culmen, li Northern North 
America, east of the Rocky Mountains, south to Massachusetts and New 

York. Like most of the woodpeckers it is 
not migratory. 

8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (402. 
S}i h y r d p icus varius) . — A small, 
rather common, scarlet-crowned, mot- 
tled-backed, yellowish-bellied wood- 
pecker, with much white on the wings, 
and black on the breast. The mot- 
tling of the back is of black and yel- 
lowish. The wings are black, with 
many spots of white on the quills, 
and the coverts are mainly white. 
The tail is more or less barred with 
black and white. The male has a red 
throat, and the female a white one. 
ow-bel The crown of the female is some- 



Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker 




176 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



times black. This migratory woodpecker is a noisy bird dur- 
ing the breeding season in the north, but during the rest of 
the year is seldom seen; it lives in the densely foliaged 
trees and is seldom heard, as its notes are very weak. This 
bird, as its name indicates, feeds mainly on the juices of trees, 
and so probably does more harm than good. 

Length, 81; wing, 4^ (4f-5£) ; tail, 3^; culmen, 1. Eastern North 
America ; breeding from Massachusetts northward, and wintering from 
Virginia to Central America. 

9. Pileated Woodpecker (405. Ceophlaeus pile&tus). — A. large, 
southern, red-crested, black-bodied, dark-billed woodpecker, 
with the sides of the head and the neck 
mainly white. When flying, much white 
can be seen on the wings, as the basal 
half of the feathers is white. The female 
fek ^\^J lacks red on the fore part of the crown. 

Kk M^H^ While most woodpeckers have an undu- 

lating flight, this one moves in a direct 
course. This bird was formerly distrib- 
uted generally over the wooded regions 
of North America, but is now becoming 
very rare except in the wilder sections. 
(Logcock.) 

Length, 13-19 ; wing, 9 (8-10) ; tail, 7 ; cul- 
men, If— 2^. North America ; very rare in the 
settled portions of the Eastern States. 




Pileated Woodpecker 



10. Red-headed Woodpecker (406. Mela- 
nirpes erythroceplialus). — A common, me- 
dium-sized, black-backed, white-rumped, 
white-bellied woodpecker, with the whole head and neck bright 
red. The secondary quills are white, forming a large white 
wing patch. The young has a grayish-brown head and neck, 
more or less mixed with brownish, and the back and wings 
are somewhat barred. It is a noisy, active bird, with ability 
to resist the most extreme cold of the Northern States in 
winter, if food is abundant. 



FAIL XXII. WOODPECKERS 



177 



Length, 9^; wing, 54 (5£-5f) ; tail, 3i ; culmen, \\. United States 



from the Rocky Mountains eastward 
into Canada, and winter- 
ing irregularly through- 
out, hut more abundantly 
in the Southern States. 

11. Lewis's Wood- 
pecker (408. Mdaner- 
pes torquatus). — An 
extreme western, reel- 
bellied, bronze-black- 
backed, red-faced 
woodpecker, with a 
bluish -gray band 
around the neck. The 
crown and the neck 
above the gray band 
are black. The 
wings, tail, back, and 
crissum are a rich iri- 
descent green-black. 

Length, 11 ; wing, 6| (6£-7) 



breeding: throughout and north 




Red-headed Woodpecker 



Western United 



tail, 4| ; culmen, 1^. 
States from the Black Hills to the Pacific; wintering in western Texas, 

and casual in Kansas. 

12. Red-bellied 
Woodpecker (409. Me- 
lanerpes carolinus). — 
A southern, medi- 
um-sized, " ladder- 
backed," whitish-bel-. 
lied woodpecker, with 
the crown and back 
neck bright scarlet, 
and the breast and 
belly often tinged with red. The black and white bars of the 
back and wings are numerous and distinct. The female lacks 
the red on the center of the crown, this being replaced by an 
apgar's birds. — 12 




Eed-bellied Woodpecker 



178 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



ashy color. This is a common southern bird, peculiarly spas- 
modic in its movements along a tree trunk. 



Length, 



wing, b\ (4|— 5|) ; tail, 3| ; oilmen, \\. Eastern and 



southern United States, north casually to Massachusetts, southern Michi- 
gan, and eastern Kansas. Not migratory. 

13. Golden-fronted Woodpecker (410. Melanerpes aurifrons). 
— A southern Texas species, similar to the last, but with the 
belly yellowish instead of reddish, the male having the crown 
but not the back neck red. In the female the red crown is 
wanting, but both sexes have the back neck more or less yellow 
or orange in the form of a band, and the forehead golden-yel- 
low, giving the name to the species. The head and under part 
are ashy-gray. 



Length, 10; wing, 5]- (5-5|); tail, Z\ 
and south to the city of Mexico. 



culm en, li. Central Texas 



14. Flicker (412. Coldptes aurbtus). — A common, brown- 
backed, white-rumped woodpecker, 
with a scarlet band across the back 
of the head, a golden lining to the 
wings and tail, a black crescent on 
the breast below the reddish throat, 
and a light-colored belly, thickly spot- 
ted with round black dots. When at 
rest, this bird can easily be recog- 
nized by the red crescent on the back 
of the head and the black crescent on 
the breast ; when flying, by the white 
rump and the golden lining to the 
wings. It often perches on limbs. 
Its peculiar habits, notes, and colors 
have given it nearly two-score names, 
the commonest of which are here 

FliOKGr 

given. (Golden-winged Woodpecker ; 
Yellow-hammer ; Pigeon Woodpecker ; High-hole ; Tucker ; 
Clape.) 



f kWA 



FAM. XXIII. KINGFISHERS 179 

Length, 12|; wing, 6 (5i-6|); tail, 4| ; culmen, If. Xorth America 
from the Plains eastward, breeding throughout and wintering mainly south 
of the Middle States. 



ORDER IV. CUCKOOS, KINGFISHERS, ETC. 
(COCCYGES) 

An order of tropical, Old World birds containing families 
differing widely in their characteristics, and classified together 
in one miscellaneous group only because they belong under no 
other order, and it would be inconvenient to classify each 
family by itself. We have representatives belonging to three 
of these families. 

FAMILY XXIII. KINGFISHERS (ALCEDINID^E) 

A large family (nearly 200 species, mainly Malayan) of 
chiefly tropical birds. The American species are solitary and 
exclusively fish-eating birds, found only near the water. A few 
Old World species feed upon insects, snails, etc., and live in 
the forests, though most of them have the habits of our forms. 
They are heavy-straight-billed, large-headed, bright-colored 
birds, with small feet and short tails. 

Key to the Species 

* Wing, 5-7 long ; culmen about 2 1. Belted Kingfisher. 

* Wing, 3-4 long ; culmen less than 2 2. Texas Kingfisher. 

* Wing over 7 long ; culmen over 3. Ringed Kingfisher (390-1. Ceryle 

torquata). A Mexican species casually found in southern Texas. 

1. Belted Kingfisher (390. Ceryle dlcyon). — A noisy, short- 
tailed, large-straight-billed, crested, blue-backed bird, with 
white lower parts and bluish band across the breast. The 
wing quills and tail feathers are black, more or less blotched 
and barred with white. The female is similar, but has a brown 
band across the belly. A common inhabitant of the wooded 
shores of streams and lakes, where its harsh, rattling cry can 



180 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




often be heard. When watching for fish, which form its only 
food, it sits on some support projecting over the water and can 

readily be recognized 
by the large, crested 
head and short tail. 

Length, 11-14J ; wing, 
G£ (6-Q\) ; tail, "4; cul- 
men,2. Throughout 
North America; breeding 
from the southern border 
of the United States, and 
wintering from the Mid- 
dle States to Panama. 

2. Texas Kingfisher 
Belted Kingfisher (391. Ceryle ameri- 

cana septentrionalis). 
— A small, bronze-green kingfisher with the collar and belly 
white. The female has the green band across the breast re- 
placed by a rufous one. 

Length, 8; wing, 3*; tail, 2|; culmen, If. Southern Texas to 
Panama. 

FAMILY XXIV. TROGONS (TROGONID^E) 

A family (50 species) of brilliantly colored, tropical birds 
represented in southern Texas by the following : 

1. Coppery-tailed Trogon (389. Trbgon ambiguus). — A beauti- 
ful, long-tailed, red-bellied bird, with the back and breast golden- 
green, face black, and a white collar between the carmine belly 
and the golden-green of the throat. Bill serrated. 1 The middle 
tail feathers of coppery-green give the species its name. 

Mexico, north to southern Texas. 



FAMILY XXV. CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. (CUCULIDJE) 

This large, tropical family (200 species) of birds includes 
species of various forms, colors, and habits, so that it has been 
separated into about ten subfamilies. All have two toes in 



FAM. XXV. CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. 181 

front, and two behind, 2 more or less downwardly curved bills, 
and elongated, rounded, to strongly graduated tails. Our birds 
belong to three of these subfamilies. Only the Old World 
cuckoos use the nests of other birds in which to place their 
eggs. The anis are very peculiar in their nesting habits; 
several females join together and build a single nest for all 
their egsrs and then take turns in the work of incubation. 



ocv 



Key to the Species 

* Bill nearly as high as long, and much flattened sideways. 3 (C.) 

* Bill elongated, only about a third as high at base as long. (A.) 

A. Bill nearly straight almost to the tip when it is abruptly decurved ; 

tail 10 or more long. Western ground bird 2. Road-runner. 

A. Bill regularly curved downward for nearly its full length; 4 tail, 8 
or less long. (B.) 
B. Bill nearly black throughout ; wings with little or no cinnamon color. 

5. Black-billed Cuckoo. 

B. Bill with much yellow below ; belly white ; wings with much cinna- 
mon color 4. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 

B. Bill yellow below ; belly tawny or buffy 3. Mangrove Cuckoo. 

C. Upper mandible smooth or slightly wrinkled 1. Ani. 

C. Upper mandible with several distinct grooves parallel with the top 
of the bill Groove-billed Ani (1). 



1. Ani (383. Crotdphaga ctni). — A long-tailed, large, south- 
ern, bronze-black bird, with a large, much compressed bill. 
The back shows steel-blue reflections, the lower parts are a 
dull black, and the tail is much rounded. This is a ground- 
living bird. 

Length, 12-15; wing, 5| (o\- 6) ; tail, 8; tarsus, H ; culmen, 11. 
West Indies and eastern South America, casual in Florida and Louisi- 
ana, and accidental near Philadelphia. The Groove-billed Ani (384. Cro- 
tophaga sulcirostris), of Mexico and Texas, is similar to the last, but 
with a grooved bill. Length, 12-15 ; wins;, 6 ; tail, 8. 




182 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

2. Road-runner (385. Geocdccyx calif ornianus). — A large, 
long-tailed, crested, coarse-plumaged, ground bird, with the 
body striped with buffy and bronze-brown, somewhat glossed 
with green. Skin around the eye naked. (Ground Cuckoo.) 

Length, 20-24 ; wing, 6| (0^-7) ; tail, 10-12 ; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, 2. 
Kansas and Colorado to California, and south to central Mexico. 

3. Mangrove Cuckoo (386. Coccyzus minor). —This rare sum- 
mer resident of the extreme south is similar to the next, but 
with the ear coverts black and the under parts a rich buff. 

Length, 12i ; wing, b\ (5-6) ; tail, 7 ; culmen, 1. Florida, Louisiana, 
and West Indies to northern South America. Maynard's Cuckoo (386 a . 
C. m. maynardi) differs from the last in having the lower parts a pale 
buff instead of ochraceous buff. Dimensions a little less. Bahamas and 
the Florida Keys. 

4. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (387. Coccyzus americanus). — A 

common, long, slender, long-tailed, brownish-gray bird, with a 

slender, curved bill and con- 
spicuously white-tipped outer 
tail feathers. The under parts 
are whitish, the wings have 
much cinnamon color, and the 
under mandible is yellow at 
base. This bird destroys great 

numbers of that pest of our 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo ., .-,, 

trees, — the tent caterpillar. 

Its notes are a harsh, grating cl-uck, cl-uck varied by cow, cow. 

(Rain "crow.") 

Length, 12 ; wing, 5| (5|-6) ; tail, 6 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, 1. Eastern 
North America; breeding from Florida to Canada and Minnesota, and 
wintering south of the United States to Central America. 

5. Black-billed Cuckoo (388. Coccyzus erythrophthdlmus). — 
A bird similar to the last in form, colors, and habits, but with 
less white and no black on the tail, the under mandible black, 
and no cinnamon on the wings. The voice is less harsh. 




FAM. XXVI. PARROTS AXD PAROQUETS 183 

Length, llf ; wing, 5| (5|— 5f ) ; tail, 6^; culmen, 1. North America 
from the Rocky Mountains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf of Mexico 
to Labrador, and wintering south of the United States to northern South 
America. 



ORDER V. PARROTS, MACAWS, ETC. (PSITTACI) 

An order of about 500 species of almost exclusively tropical 
birds, here represented by only one, belonging to : 



FAMILY XXVI. PARROTS AND PAROQUETS (PSITTACID.E) 

A large family (400 species) of tropical, gaudily colored, 
harsh-voiced, hooked and cered-billed birds ; having feet with 
two toes in front and two behind, which they use for walking, 
climbing, and as hands. Their discordant voices are, in most 
species, readily trained to utter the words of human speech. 
They are inhabitants of dense forests. AYhen necessaiy, they 
fly well. They live upon fruits and seeds. 

1. Carolina Paroquet (382. Conurus caroUnensis). — A rare, 
southern, green paroquet, with a yellow head and neck, and 
bright orange fore- 
head and cheeks. The 
bend of the wing is 
also orange. The 
young have the head, 
neck, and bend of 
wing also green. 

This, our only repre- 

o ,-, Carolina Paroquet 

sentative ot the par- 
rots, was formerly found as far north as the Great Lakes, but 
is becoming every year more rare and local even in Florida, 
Arkansas, and Indian Territory, the only divisions of the 
United States where it has recently been found. 

Length, 12| ; wing, 1\ (7-8) ; tail, 61. 




184 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



ORDER VI. BIRDS OF PREY (RAPTORES) 

An order of usually large, rapacious, land birds, with hooked 
and cered bills ; living exclusively upon animal food. They 
are found in all lands, and form several well-marked families. 
Some are night-flying (owls), some are carrion-eating (buzzards 
and vultures), some live mainly on mammals, fish, and birds 
(eagles and larger hawks), and some. eat mice and insects (the 
smaller hawks). 

FAMILY XXVII. HORNED OWLS, HOOT OWLS, ETC. 
(BUBONIU.E) 

A large family (200 species) of owls, with rounded eye disks 
and toe nails, without saw-like teeth. It contains all our species 
except one, the barn owl. The owls differ from all other birds 
in having the face so broadened that both eyes look forward 
instead of sidewise, and they are so surrounded by radiating 
feathers as to make these features of the head seem larger. 
The eyes are immovable in their sockets, so that the whole 
head has to be turned when the bird wishes to look in a new 
direction. This gives a live specimen a very strange appear- 
ance. Many of the birds of this family have tufts of erectile 
feathers appearing like external ears and popularly called ear 
tufts. 1 These birds are regarded by many with superstitious 
awe because of their uncanny appearance, their strange actions, 
and their harsh, hooting, weird voices. 

Key to the Species 

* Wing, 5i-7i long ; tarsus partly bare of feathers and twice as long as 

the middle toe " 11. Burrowing Owl. 

* Wing, 3-4i long ; tarsus partly bare and but little longer than the 

middle" toe .^ 13. Elf Owl. 

* Tarsus fully feathered. (A.) 

A. Head with conspicuous ear tufts or horns. 1 (F.) jgtajftl (il5^\ 
A. Head without ear tufts/ 2 (B.) Sp| g, y \ 

B. Wing, 15-19 long. (E.) m£&. K^9 

B. Wing, 11-14 long. (D.) 

B. Wing, 8-10 long 10. American Hawk Owl. 



FAM. XXVII. HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



185 



B. Wing.. 3-8 long (C.) 

C. Wing, 6i-8 long 5. Richardson's Owl.' 

C. Wing, 5-6i long 6. Saw-whet Owl. 

C. Wing, 3-5 long ; tarsus densely feathered and not longer than 

middle toe 12. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. 

D. Belly with longitudinal stripes ; back and breast with cross bars 

3. Barred Owl. 

D. Belly and back with longitudinal stripes (there are small, possibly 

unnoticed ear tufts of few feathers.) 2. Short-eared Owl. 

D. Belly and back dotted with black ; the nail of the middle claw has a 
saw-like ridge on the inner side, so this species belongs to the next 

family ; face heart shaped 2 American Barn Owl, p. 192. 

E. Plumage chiefly white ; tail rounded 9. Snowy Owl. 

E. Plumage mottled and barred with blackish and whitish 

4. Great Gray Owl. 

F. Wing, 14-18 long .8. Great Horned Owl. 

F. Wing, 5-8 long 7. Screech Owl. 

F. Wing, 11-13 long. (G.) 

G. Ear tufts large, of 8-12 feathers 1. American Long-eared Owl. 

G. Ear tufts small, of few feathers. 2. Short-eared Owl. 

1. American Long-eared Owl (366. Asio ivilsonitinus). — A 
large, common, night-flying, long-eared, brownish, mottled 
owl, with the lower parts lighter, streaked on the breast 
and barred on the belly. The ear 
tufts are an inch or more long, 
nearly black, with a light border. 
During the daytime, this tame 
bird is usually to be found in 

deep, and, by preference, ever- JP *ilf.¥tfl\ 

green forests. Its food consists ''!'•'/*/.' 

mainly of mice and other small I ■: jj I ■ $ jl 

mammals. 

Length, 13-16 ; wing, llf (11-12) : 
tail, 6 ; tarsus, \{ ; culmen, 1. Tem- -w 
perate North America south to central 
Mexico ; breeding throughout. 

2. Short-eared Owl (367. Asio 
accipitrinus). — A large, ochrace- 
ous, brown mottled, and streaked, 
marsh-living owl, with ear tufts Short-eared Owl 




186 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



so small as often to be unnoticed. There is much of buffy 
tints, especially on the lower parts, which are streaked on 
both breast and belly. This inhabitant of wet, grassy places 
is fearless and will allow itself to be almost stepped upon 
before it will fly. Like the last, it feeds principally upon 
mice. 

Length, 14-17; wing, 12| (12-13); tail, 6; tarsus, If; culmen, 1|. 



Found in almost all lands 
Virginia northward. 



breeding in North America, locally from 



3. Barred Owl (368. Syrnium nebulbsum). — A large, night- 
flying, much-barred, brownish, hooting owl, without ear tufts. 

The cross bars are fine and numerous 
on all parts of this bird, except the 
belly and sides, which are white, 
broadly streaked with blackish. Most 
owls have light, usually yellow eyes, 
but the barred owl's eyes are nearly 
black. This inhabitant of large, dense 
woods is the one whose hooting call 
can be heard nearly a mile — ichoo- 
ichdo-ivhod-ichdo-ah. Its notes are 
more frequently heard soon after dark 
and before sunrise, but during moon- 
light nights it may be heard all night, 
and occasionally even during the day. 
Its food consists of small mammals, 
insects, and birds. (Hoot Owl ; Amer- 
Barred Owl ican Wood Owl.) 

Length, 17-25; wing, 13| (12-14); tail, 9; culmen, 1J. United 
States from Nebraska and Texas eastward, north to Quebec ; breeding 
throughout. The Florida Barred Owl (368 a . S. n. alleni) differs in hav- 
ing the toes almost bare of feathers ; a few bristly feathers are to be found 
along the outer side of the middle toe only. South Carolina to Texas, 
near the coast. 

4. Great Gray Owl (370 Scotidptex chirred). — A northern, 
very large, yellow-eyed, ashy-brown, mottled owl, without ear 




FAM. XXVII. HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



187 




Great Gray Owl 



tufts. The under parts are pale 
gray, streaked on the breast, and 
barred on the belly and sides with 
dark brown. This immense owl 
of the Arctic regions is practically 
found only within the United States, 
very irregularly in winter. (Spec- 
tral Owl.) 

Length, .24-30 ; wing, 17 (16-18) ; tail, 
12 ; culmen, H. Arctic America, strag- 
gling southward in winter to southern 
New England, New Jersey, Illinois, and 
Idaho. 

5. Richardson's Owl (371. Nyctala 

tengmalmi richardsoni). — A small, 

northern, night-flying, yellow-eyed, 

white-spotted, brown owl, without 

ear tufts. The under parts are white, thickly, but very 

irregularly, streaked with brown. This, like the last, is an in- 
habitant of northern regions, sel- 
dom seen in our Northern States, 
and only in winter. (Arctic 
American Saw-whet Owl.) 

Length, 9-12 ; wing, 7 (6±-7|); tail, 
4| ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, 1 . Arctic 
America; breeding from the Gulf of 
St. Lawrence northward, and winter- 
ing south to our northern range of 
states. 

6. Saw-whet Owl (372. Nyctala 
acadica). — Avery small, yellow- 
eyed, night-flying, brownish-mot- 
tled owl, without ear tufts. The 
head is finely streaked, and the 
back spotted with white. The 
under parts are white, heavily 
Saw-whet Owl streaked with light and dark 




188 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



brown. This is a night-flying bird, passing its time during the 

day among dense trees. It gets its name from a resemblance 

of its notes to the noise made in filing a saw. Mice form its 

main food. (Acadian Owl.) 

Length, 8 ; wing, 5^ (5|-5|-) ; tail, 2} ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. North 
America ; breeding from the Middle States northward (south to Mexico, 
in the mountains), and wandering irregularly southward in winter. 



7. Screech Owl (373. 
small, night-flying owl, 



Megascops asio). — A very common, 
with conspicuous ear tufts, and weird, 
whistling notes. It is found in varie- 
ties of two colors, distinctly reddish and 
distinctly grayish. The back is finely 
streaked and dappled ; the under parts 
are white-streaked, blotched and barred 
with dark colors, giving them a varie- 
gated appearance. The young is more 
regularly barred than the adult. This 
owl prefers orchards near human habi- 
tations, to the wild woods, for its home. 
Its food consists of insects, mice, and 
birds. 

Length, 71-10 ; wing, 6| (6-7|) ; tail, 31 ; 
culmen, f. North America from the Plains 
eastward, south to Georgia, and north to New 
Brunswick and Minnesota ; practically resi- 
dent throughout, The Florida Screech Owl 
(373 a . J/, a.floriddmns), of South Carolina to 
Louisiana, mainly near the coast, is a smaller bird, with the colors deeper, 
and the markings more distinct. Wing, 6 ; tail, 3. The Texas Screech 
Owl (373 b . M. a. trichdpsis), of southern Texas to Central America, has the 
small size of the Florida bird, and the two phases of color of the common 
screech owl, but is more regularly streaked and barred ; thus it lacks the 
blotchy appearance which is so characteristic of the northern form. 

8. Great Horned Owl (375. Bubo virginihnus). — A very large, 
yellow-eyed, long-eared, finely mottled, brownish owl, usually 
marked with a white collar. The under parts are reddish-buff 
barred with black. This bird inhabits dense forests of the 
sparsely settled sections, and is probably the only owl that 




Screech Owl 



FAM. XXVII. HORNED OWLS, ETC. 



189 



kills poultry and game birds in any 
great numbers, though, even this one 
is more apt to feed on the smaller 
mammals. It can scream in a most 
terrifying manner as well as ivhoo- 
ivhodoo. (Hoot Owl ; Cat Owl.) 

Length, 18-25 ; wing, 15h (14.1-17) ; tail,' 
8| ; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, 1 \. North America 
from the Mississippi Valley eastward, north 
to Labrador and south to Central America. 
The Western Horned Owl (375 a . B. v. sub- 
drcticus). of the western United States from 
the Great Plains westward (and east casually 
to Illinois) , is lighter in color, having the buff 
markings changed to gray or white. The 
Arctic Horned Owl (375 b . B. v. drcticus), 
of arctic America south to South Dakota, 
Wyoming, and Idaho, has much whiter 
plumage, the under parts being pure white 
with very restricted dark markings. 




Great Horned Owl 



9. Snowy Owl (376. Nyctea nyctea). — A very large, mottled. 

white owl, with densely feathered 
feet and no ear tufts. The female 
is more heavily barred. It is a day- 
flying, yellow-eyed owl, found in 
the United States only in winter. 
Though a day-flying owl, it is more 
active in the early morning and 
evening. In the United States it 
is more apt to be found in marshy 
flats bordering bays and rivers, and 
along the seashore. 

Length, 20-27 ; wing, 17 (15J-18|) ; 
tail, 9^; tarsus, 2; culmen, 1|. Arctic 
regions of the northern hemisphere ; 
breeding north of the United States, 
migrating in winter to the Middle States 
and straggling to South Carolina and 
Snowy Owl Texas. 




190 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




American Hawk Owl 



10. American Hawk Owl (377 a . Surnia ulula cdparoch). — A 
medium-sized, day-flying, much-mottled, grayish-brown owl, with 
a long and rounded tail 
and no ear tufts. The 
breast and belly are 
regularly barred with 
reddish-black upon a 
white ground ; across 
the upper breast there 
is a more or less per- 
fect dark band. The 
upper parts of the back 
and head are marked 
with round white spots. 
This is as much a day- 
flying bird as any of 
the hawks, and its shrill cry is frequently uttered while on 
the wing. Its perch is usually on some dead-topped tree in an 
open place. (Day Owl.) 

Length, 14|-17i; wing, 9; tail, 7; tarsus, 1; culmen, 1\. Arctic 
America ; breeding north of the United States, and wintering south 

to the northern border 
states. 

11. Burrowing Owl 

(378. Spe6tyto cunicu- 
l&ria hi/jwgcea). — A 
small, burrowing, day- 
flying, grayish-brown 
owl, without ear tufts, 
but with excessively 
long legs that are 
nearly bare of feath- 
ers. The brown of 
Burrowing Owl the back ig both spot . 

ted and barred with whitish, and the buff-colored under parts 
are barred with grayish-brown except on the throat. This bird 




FAM. XXVII. HOBXED OWLS, ETC. 



191 



lives in the deserted holes or burrows of " prairie dogs 
other quadrupeds, including foxes and badgers. 



and 



Length, 10 ; wing, 6| (5f-7£) ; tail, S\ ; tarsus, If ; culinen, f. West- 
ern United States, including the Great Plains, north to southern British 
America and south to Central America. Accidental in Xew York and 
Massachusetts. The Florida Burrowing Owl (378 a . S. c. floridana) of 
southern Florida and the Bahamas is much like the last, but averages 
slightly smaller ; the legs are even more nearly free from feathers ; the 
lower parts have a more purely white ground color, and the upper parts a 
sepia-brown with pure white dottings. 

12. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (380. Glaucidium phaloendides. 
— A very small, southwestern, olive-brown, or reddish owl, with- 
out ear tufts, and with a chestnut-red or white tail crossed 
by about eight blackish-brown 
bars. The top of the head is 
sharply streaked with whitish. 
The olive-brown or reddish of 
the back is mainly free from 
markings excepting the shoul 
ders, which have large, round. 
white spots. This small spe- 
cies, like the screech owl, is 
found in some varieties, — a 
grayish-brown, a red one and 
some that are intermediate in 
color. Sometimes the red is so 
intense and uniform as to de- 
stroy the barring of the tail 
and the wings. (Ferruginous 
Gnome Owl.) 




Ferruginous Pygmy Owl 



Length, 6| ; wing, 4 (3£-4£) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f . Texas to 
Arizona and south to southern Brazil. 

13. Elf Owl (381. Micropdllas ichitneyi). — A very small, 
western, mottled, and grayish or grayish-brown owl, without 
ear tufts and with a white or whitish, more or less interrupted, 
collar around the neck. The lower parts are white, with more 



192 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



or less longitudinal blotches of brownish or rusty color. The 
tarsus is longer than the middle toe, very bristly with hairs in 
front, and naked behind. 

Length, 0; wing, 4t\ (4-41) j tail, 2| ; tarsus, £ ; culmen, T V Southern 
Texas to southern California, and south to Mexico. 



FAMILY XXVIII. BARN OWLS (STRIGID.E) 

A very small family (8 species) of owls, with triangular- 
shaped eye disks, a saw-toothed nail to the middle toe, and 
very downy plumage. Our only species is so nocturnal in 
its habits, and in the daytime so well able to hide from obser- 
vation, that, though not rare, it is sel- 
dom seen. The peculiar form of face, 
due to the eye disks, gives it some- 
what the appearance of a monkey. 

1. American Barn Owl (365. Strix 
pratlncola). — A large night-flying, 
monkey-faced, black-eyed, brownish 
owl, with fine mottlings of white and 
black and no ear tufts. It has been 
said to appear like a closely hooded, 
toothless old woman with a hooked 
nose. Its food consists almost entirely 
of mice and other small mammals. 

Length, 15-21 ; wing, 13| (12i-14) ; tail, 
01 ; tarsus, 2f; culmen, 1L United States. 
more abundant south of New York; breed- 
ing from Pennsylvania southward, and very rare in southern New Eng- 
land. Not migratory. 




American Barn Owl 



FAMILY XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, VULTURES, ETC. (FAL- 

CONLTLE) 

This is the largest family (350 species) of the birds of prey 
(Baptores), and representatives are found in all lands. The 
American species can be naturally divided into seven groups, 



FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 193 

under which, divisions the peculiarities will here be given. 
(1) Kites. Slender, graceful, small birds of prey with very 
long, pointed wings, often forked tails, and slender, weak 
bills. 1 They are particularly birds of the air, and in their 
method of flying remind one of swallows by their grace and 
ease of movement. Nos. 1-4. (2) Harriers. Hawks with long 
legs, unnotched, lengthened bills, 2 long wings and tail, and 
slender form, having the feathers radiating around the eyes, 
ruff-like, somewhat imitating the owls. No. 5. (3) Hawks. 
A large group of medium to small birds of prey with short, 
stout bills, 3 long, nearly square tails, and long bare legs. They 
have wonderful powers of flight, and rarely fail to capture 
their prey, which consists chiefly of small quadrupeds and 
birds. Nos. 6-8. (4) Buzzards and Eagles. A large group of 
medium to large-sized birds of prey with heavy bodies and 
mainly toothless bills. They are inferior in power of flight 
to the hawks or falcons, and usually capture their prey by 
stealth rather than by open fight like most other birds of 
the family. In many species the tarsus is more or less feath- 
ered ; in some, the feathering extends to the toes. Buzzards, 
Nos. 9-20 ; Eagles, 21-23. (5) Falcons. A large group of me- 
dium to small, but strong, birds of prey with toothed bills, 4 
long, strong wings, short, stiff, rounded tails, short legs, and 
stout nails (talons) to the strong toes. This is the most typical 
group of the family, and includes the bravest and most daring 
of birds. They capture their prey with the most sudden and 
violent of movements. It includes our smallest species. Nos. 
24-32. (6) Caracaras. A small group of sub-tropical, vulture- 
like, sluggish, mainly terrestrial birds of prey, with short, 
toothless bills, long necks, and fully feathered heads. No. 33. 
(7) Osprey. This probably consists of but one species, of world- 
wide distribution, — namely, the well-known fish hawk or osprey, 




1 2 

apgar's birds. — 13 





194 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

of which the peculiarities are given in the specific description. 
No. 34. 

Practically, in this whole family the female is the larger and 
stronger bird. Where dimensions are given, the smaller num- 
bers refer to the male and the larger to the female. 

Key to the Species 

* Nails (talons) all of the same length, narrowed and rounded on the 

lower side ; wing, 17-22 long ; scales of the tarsus small, rounded *. . 
33. American Osprey . 

* Nails of graduated length, the hind one longest, the outer shortest. (A.) 

A. Tarsus densely feathered all around and down to the toes ; wing, 

22-28 long 21. Golden Eagle. 

A. Tarsus feathered to the toes in front but with a bare strip behind ; 

wing, 15-20 long. (P.) 
A. Tarsus bare for at least one third of its length. (B.) 

B. Wing over 19 long ; tail under 16 long ; head not crested 

: 23. Bald Eagle. 

B. Wing over 19 long ; tail over 16 long ; head conspicuously crested ; 

Texas 22. Harpy Eagle. 

B. Wing under 18 long. (C.) 

C. An extreme southern, ground bird, with the front of the tarsus 
covered with numerous rounded scales ; wing, 14±—16i long ; 

culmen, 1\ or more long 32. Audubon's Caracara. 

C. Tail deeply forked (6 inches or more) ; wing, 15-18 long 

1. Swallow-tailed Kite. 

C. Wing, 7 or more times as long as the tarsus ; bill with no sharp 
teeth or notches ; nostril elongated and without inner bony tubercle ; 
tail at most but slightly notched. (0.) 
C. Wing about 7 times as long as the tarsus ; bill with a sharp notch 
and tooth back of the tip ; nostril circular and with an inner bony 
tubercle ; 2 wing over 11 long. (N.) 
C. Wing, 6 or less times as long as the tarsus. (D.) 
D. General plumage black, with almost no portions of lighter color 

except some bands on the tail. (M.) 
D. Upper tail coverts white ; base of tail white also in some of the 

species. (L.) 
D. With neither the general plumage black nor the upper tail coverts 
white. (E.) 






FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 195 

E. Nostril circular and with a conspicuous central bony tubercle ; 2 
upper mandible with a strong tooth and notch back of the hooked 
tip. (J.) 
E. Nostril oval and the upper mandible without more than one lobe or 
tooth, and that not a strong one. 3 (F.) 
F. Tail about f as long as the wing. (I.) 
F. Tail not over § as long as the wing. (G.) 

G. Outer web of the primaries with white, buff y, or reddish spots ; four 

outer primaries notched on the inner web ; 4 wing, 7|-10 long 

11. Red-shouldered Hawk. 

G. Under parts white, very slightly if at all streaked ; upper parts 

nearly black ; Florida 16. Short-tailed Hawk. 

G. Not as above. (H.) 
H. Four outer primaries notched on the inner web ; 4 tail generally quite 

red. 10. Red-tailed Hawk. 

H. Three outer primaries notched ; 5 wing, 14-18 long 

14. Swainson's Hawk. 

H. Three outer primaries notched ; wing, 9|-12 long 

15. Broad-winged Hawk. 

I. Wing under 9 long ; tail square 6 6. Sharp-skinned Hawk. 

I. Wing, 8|-11 long ; tail rounded 7 7. Cooper's Hawk. 

I. Wing, 1H-I4i long 8. American Goshawk. 

J. Wing, 11-17 long ; only one primary notched on the inner web. 8 (N.) 

J. Wing, 91— 11^ long ; two primaries notched ; southern Texas 

30. Alpomado Falcon. 

J. Wing, 5-9^ long ; two primaries notched. (K.) 

K. Back or belly with more or less of bright brownish-red 

31. American Sparrow Hawk or Cuban Sparrow Hawk. 

K. Back bluish slate color, or blackish and without bright rufous 

28. Pigeon Hawk or 29. Richardson's Merlin. 

L. Tail gray, barred with blackish ; wing, 13-16 long ; common 

5. Marsh Harrier. 

L. Tail mainly white but much barred ; wing, 14-18 long; Texas 

13. Sennett's White-tailed Hawk. 

L. Tail zoned black and white ; extreme southwestern hawk with wing 

9|-12 long 18. Mexican Goshawk. 

M. Base and tip of tail white ; shoulders and tibia chestnut ; wing, 

12-15 long ; western 9. Harris's Hawk. 

M. Three white bands across the tail at base, tip, and center ; Texas 

12. Zone-tailed Hawk or 17. Mexican Black Hawk. 

M. Wing, 10-13 long ; Florida ; black phase of. . 16. Short-tailed Hawk. 




196 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

M. Wing, 141-171; western ; black phase oi. .14. Swainson's Hawk. 

M. Wing, 131-161 ; northeastern ; black variety under 

25. Gray Gyrfalcon. 

N. Tarsus hardly at all feathered at the upper part 27. Duck Hawk. 

N. Tarsus feathered less than half way down in front ; back grayish- 
brown 26. Prairie Falcon. 

N. Tarsus feathered over half way down in front and on the sides 

24. White Gyrfalcon. 25. Gray Gyrfalcon. 

0. Tail white without bars and square tipped ; wing, 11-14 long 

2. White-tailed Kite. 

0. Tail white at base and whitish at tip; tail coverts above and below 
mainly white ; upper mandible lengthened and hooked; culmen, 
1 or more long ; wing, 12-16 long ; Florida 4. Everglade Kite. 

0. Slaty-blue above, gray below ; tail black, unbarred 

3. Mississippi Kite. 

P. Legs bright brownish-red with black bars . 20. Ferruginous Rough-leg. 

P. Legs more or less buffy without brownish-red 

19. American Rough-legged Hawk. 

1. Swallow-tailed Kite (327. Elanoides forficHtus). — A beau- 
tiful, large, glossy, bluish-black kite, with the head, rump, and 

under parts white, 
and the tail deeply 
forked. The neck and 
under w r ing coverts 
are also white. This 
is a graceful bird, 
generally seen on the 
wing, where its move- 
ments remind one of 
those of a swallow. 
It is remarkable in that it can drink as well as eat, while 
coursing through the air. Common in the south. 

Length, 20-25 ; wing, 16i(15i-17f) ; tail, 131; tarsus, l\; culmen, 1. 
Interior United States, west to the Great Plains, north to North Carolina 
and Minnesota ; casual to New England and Manitoba ; breeding locally 
throughout its regular range, and wintering in Central and South America. 

2. White-tailed Kite (328. Elanus leuciirus). — An ashy- 
backed, white-headed, white-tailed, white-bellied kite, with the 
w r ing coverts conspicuously black. The young have the Avhites 




Swallow-tailed Kite 



FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



197 




White-tailed Kite 



more or less marked with reddish-brown, and the tail with an 
ashy bar near the tip. The tarsus is feathered half way down 
in front, and the ex- .-- . 

posed portion is finely 
reticulated. This is one 
of the strongest of the 
kites ; its food consist- 
ing of birds, quadru- 
peds, reptiles, and in- 
sects. Common in 
marshy regions, west 
of the Mississippi. 
(Black-shouldered 
Kite.) 

Length, 15-17 ; wing, 12£ (11J-13J) ; tail, 7 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, |. 
Southern United States ; breeding north to South Carolina and southern 
Illinois, and south throughout most of South America. Casual in Michi- 
gan. It winters south of our territory. 

3. Mississippi Kite (329. Ictinia mississippiensis). — A kite 
with slate-colored wings and back, light gray head, 

(Hi *^k nec 'k- ail( l belly, and black, unbarred tail. The 
primaries are blotched with much chestnut. 
The young lacks the chestnut of the wings, 
^^ has the head more or less streaked with 
"^"H fcv °lack and white, and the tail marked 

with a few white, irregular bars. 

,-, wing, lii(10£- 
J ; tarsus, 1J ; cul- 
men, |. Southern United 
States east of the Rocky 
Mountains; breeding 
north to South Carolina, 
southern Illinois, and 
Kansas, and wintering in 
Mississippi Kite the tropics. 

4. Everglade Kite (330. Bostrhcimus socidbiUs). — A dark, 
slate-colored kite, with the upper tail coverts and the base of 




Length, 13-15 
tail, 6 



198 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



the tail white ; the tip of the tail is someAvhat whitened and 
notched; the upper mandible is peculiarly lengthened and 
hooked. This bird acts much like a gull, flying over the 
shallow, fresh waters of southern Florida; it dives for snails, 
which form its main food. (Snail-hawk.) 

Length, 17; wing, 14 (13-15) ; tail, 7^; tarsus, 2; culnien, 1|. Florida, 
Cuba, and eastern Mexico, south to the Argentine Republic. 

5. Marsh Hawk (331. Circus hudsbnius). — A large, com- 
mon, ashy-colored or gray hawk, with white tail coverts, and 

white belly, spotted or 
barred with reddish. The 
primaries are blackish, 
and the tail is silvery- 
gray, irregularly barred 
with blackish. The fe- 
male has a brownish back, 
head, and neck, darker 
primaries and tail, and 
the under parts more 
buffy, streaked on the 
belly with blackish. This 
is a common, low-flying 
hawk of the open coun- 
try, easily determined by 
the white tail coverts. 
It may often be found 

perching on a low elevation, or even in the grass. (Marsh 

Harrier.) 

Length, 18-24; wing, 14J (13-16); tail, 9* ; tarsus, 3; culrnen. 1 
nearly. North America ; breeding throughout, south to Panama. 

6. Sharp-shinned Hawk (332. Accipiter velox). — A common, 
long, square-tailed, medium-sized, dark-brownish or slate-colored 
hawk, with much-barred, buffy under parts. The tail has 
blackish cross-bars and a white tip ; the primaries are also 
barred with blackish. The young has brownish markings on 




Marsh Hawk 



FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



199 



the back, and blackish streaks or spots 
on the whitish lower parts. This is a 
fearless, swift, low-flying hawk, living 
mainly on birds, including poultry. 

Length, 10-14 ; wing, 7£ (6-9) ; tail, 5-8 ; tar- 
sus, 2 ; culm en, f . North America, south to 
Panama ; breeding throughout. 

7. Cooper's Hawk (333. Acclpiter coop- 
er ii). — A hawk similar to the last, but 
larger and with a decidedly rounded tail. 
It is a dark-brown hawk, with grayish- 
and brownish-spotted under parts. In 
habits and food, it is much like the sharp- 
shinned hawk. 

Length, 14-20 ; wing, 9-11; tail, 7-10; tarsus, 
2 J ; culmen, 1. North America, south to south- 
ern Mexico ; breeding throughout. 




Sharp-shinned Hawk 



8. American Goshawk (334. Accipiter atrkapillus). — A large, 

dark, slate-col- 
ored hawk, with 
grayish, wavy 
bars on a white 
ground on all 
the lower parts. 
The head is 
blackish, and 
has a white line 
over the eye, 
and the throat 
and breast are 
somewh at 
streaked with 
blackish. This 
is one of the 
Cooper's Hawk strongest and American Goshawk 





200 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



most daring of all of the 
hawks, feeding upon birds 
and quadrupeds in about 
equal proportions. 

Length, 20-26 ; wing, 12- 
14 ; tail, 9-13 ; tarsus, 3 ; cul- 
men, \\. Northern and eastern 
North America; breeding north 
of the United States except in 
the higher mountains, and 
wintering south to the Middle 
States. 

9. Harris's Hawk (335. 
Pardbilteo uniclnctus hdr- 
risi). — A large, southwest- 
ern, dark-brown hawk, 
with reddish shoulders 
and tibiae. The tail has a 

white base and tip, the middle portions being unbarred. This 

is a sluggish, carrion-feeding bird, associating with buzzards, 

and having the loral region bare of 

feathers back to the eyes. 




Harris's Hawk 



14J- 

\. Mississippi 



Length, 19-23 ; wing, 12 
11; tarsus, 3| ; culmen, 1 
and Texas to Lower California, south to 
Panama ; breeding from southern Texas 
westward and southward. 

10. Red-tailed Hawk (337. Bitteo bo- 
recilis). — A common, mottled, brown- 
ish hawk, with a bright, brick-red 
tail ; the tail feathers are tipped with 
white, and have a dark bar near the 
tip; under parts nearly white, with 
many brownish streaks, especially on 
the upper breast. The young is sim- 
ilar, but has the tail crossed with 
many, more or less distinct, blackish 




FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



201 



bars. Four of the outer primaries are notched on the inner 
web, and the shoulders are not marked with reddish. Its food 
consists mainly of small quadrupeds, but it will not refuse 
birds, insects, or reptiles. (Hen Hawk ; Chicken Hawk.) 

Length, 19-25 ; wing, 131-17^ ; tail, 8|-10| ; tarsus, 3 ; culmen, H. 
North America from the Plains eastward, south to eastern Mexico ; 
breeding about throughout. Krider's Hawk (337 a . B. b. kriderii) of 
Minnesota to Texas and westward (casual in -Iowa and Illinois) is a 
light-colored form, pure white below and with the tail bar nearly lost. 
Western Red-tail (337 b . B. b. calurus) of North America, west of the 
Rocky Mountains (casual in Illinois), is a nearly evenly colored, dark 
chocolate-brown hawk, with the red tail crossed by several black bars. 
Harlan's Hawk (337 d . B. b. harlani) of the Gulf States (casually north 
to Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Kansas) is nearly uniform black, with the tail 
rather longitudinally mottled with dusky and white, and having more or 
less of the red tinge and the zone of black near the tip. (Black Warrior.) 

11. Red-shouldered Hawk (339. Biiteo linecitus). — A common 
hawk, with much brownish-red on head, shoulders, breast, and 
belly. The tail and primaries are black, with 
broad bars of white. The throat is streaked 
with blackish, and the breast and belly are much 
barred with white or whitish. The young is 
very different and hard to determine; above 
plain, dark brown, with little indication of the 
red shoulders ; head, neck, and under parts are 
nearly white, fully streaked with dark brown ; 
tail and wing quills brown, crossed with many in- 
distinct, lighter and darker bars. Four primaries 
are notched on the inner web. This is a bird of 
well-watered woods, living on small quadrupeds, 
insects, and reptiles, in the order given. (Misap- 
plied names : Hen Hawk ; Chicken Hawk.) 

' Length, 17i-22 ; wing, 11£-14£; tail, 8-10; tarsus, 
3 ; culmen, 1. North America from the Plains eastward, 
north to Manitoba and Nova Scotia, south to Mexico ; Red- shouldered 
breeding throughout. The Florida Red-shouldered Hawk Hawk 

(339 a . B. I. alleni) of South Carolina to Texas, mainly coastwise, is a 
smaller hawk, with a streaked, grayish-white head, grayish throat, indis- 
tinctly barred, buffy under parts and no red shoulders. 




202 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



12. Zone-tailed Hawk (340. Buteo abbrevicttus). — A south- 
western glossy-black to blackish-brown hawk; the tail has 
three slate-colored bands above, and three pure white ones 
below. The young has a grayish-brown tail crossed above 
with numerous oblique black bands, and showing below mainly 
the white inner webs. When disturbed, the feathers of this 
hawk show much white, especially on the head and breast, as 
much of the plumage is pure white at base. 

Length, 18i-21J; wing, 15-17J; tail, 8|-10| ; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, 1. 
Texas to southern California, south to northern South America. 

13. Sennett's White-tailed Hawk (341. Buteo albicaudatus 
smnetti). — A Texas, ashy or lead-colored, short-tailed hawk, 
with the tail coverts, tail, and entire under parts white, and 
the wing coverts chestnut. The tail has numerous narrow, 
broken, zig-zag lines, and a broad black band near the tip. 
The young is a brownish-black bird, with a grayish tail, becom- 
ing darker near the tip. This hawk, like the last species, has 

white bases to many 
of the feathers, 
which show when 
the plumage is dis- 
turbed. 

Length, 23 ; wing, 
141-18 ; tail, 7-10 ; tar- 
sus, 3*; culmen, If. 
Southern Texas and 
southward into Mexico. 

14. Swainson's 
Hawk (342. Buteo 
sicainsoni). — A 
western, dark - col- 
ored hawk, very va- 
riable in color, but 
Swainson's Hawk usually with conspic- 

uous dark patches on the sides of breast, and many (8-12) dark 
tail bars. The breast has a large, cinnamon-red patch ; the 




FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



203 



primaries are unbarred, and the three outer ones are notched 
on the inner web ; the belly is much blotched and barred with 
blackish, whitish, and buffy markings. There is a very dark 
(melanistic) form of this bird, in which the whole plumage is 
evenly blackish. Of course there are birds of intermediate 
colors. The size and the peculiar primaries as above given are 
distinct enough to fix the species. 

Length, 19-22; wing, 14£-17£; tail, 8-10; tarsus, 2\\ culmen, f. 
Western North America from Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Texas to the 
Pacific, north to the Arctic regions, and south to the Argentine Republic ; 
breeding throughout its North American range. Casual to Massachu- 
setts and Maine. 

15. Broad-winged Hawk (343. Buteo latissimus). — A dark- 
colored hawk, with grayish tail, crossed by two broad, dark 
bars ; under parts brownish, heavily 
barred. The primaries are without red- 
dish markings, and the three outer ones 
are notched on the inner web. -The young 
has a grayish-brown tail, crossed by three 
to five indistinct black bars, but has the 
narrow whitish tip of the adult. A slug- 
gish, unsuspicious hawk, feeding on in- 
sects, small mammals, batrachians, and 
reptiles. 

Length, 13-17 ; wing, 10-1 11 ; tail, 6|--8 ; tar- 
sus, 2i ; culmen, f . Eastern North America 
north to New Brunswick, south to northern 
South America ; breeding throughout its United 
States range. 




Broad-winged Hawk 



16. Short-tailed Hawk (341. Buteo bra- 
chyurus). — A rare, Florida, slaty-gray to 
grayish-brown hawk, with all under parts 
pure white, except some brownish markings on the sides of the 
breast. The grayish tail is barred with black and narrowly 
tipped with white. The young has the under parts washed 
with buffy. This species, like No. 14, is found in a very dark 



204 



KEY AND DESCBIPTlON 



(melanistic) phase, in which nearly the whole plumage is a 
somewhat glossy black. 

Length, 15-18 ; wing, 10|-13; tail, 6-7 \ , tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, f. South 
America north to Florida, where it breeds. 

17. Mexican Black Hawk (345. Urubitinga anthradnd). — A 

southern Texas, coal-black hawk, with a central broad white 
band across the tail, and a white tip; the ends of the upper 
tail coverts are also white. The young is mottled blackish- 
brown above and streaked buffy below ; the tail is crossed 
with about seven bands of blackish and grayish. 

Length, 21-23 ; wing, 13-16 ; tail, 8-11 ; tarsus, 3} ; culmen, 1|. 
Northern South America north to southern Texas. 

18. Mexican Goshawk (346. Asturma plagihta). — A south- 
western, ashy-backed, white-bellied hawk, with a black tail 

crossed by several 
somewhat broken white 
bands and a white or 
whitish tip. The white 
belly and breast are 
beautifully and finely 
barred with dark lines. 
The young is blackish- 
brown above and whit- 
ish below, much mot- 
tled with reddish above 
and blackish below ; 
tail, like the back, 
crossed with numerous 
blackish bars. 
Mexican Goshawk Length, 17 ; wing, 9|- 

11 J j tail, 7-8; tarsus, 2f ; 

culmen, f . Southwestern border of the United States, south to Panama. 

Once seen in Illinois. 

19. American Rough-legged Hawk (347 a . Archibuteo lagdpus 
sancti-johtinnis). — A large, dark-brownish hawk, with rough, 




FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



205 




feathered legs, and the under parts spotted with black and 
buffy. The basal half of the tail is 
almost white and the rest very dark, 
but usually showing two or three 
grayish bars. The spotted under parts 
form a dark band across the belly. 
This rather sluggish, low-flying, al- 
most exclusively mouse-eating hawk, 
is more nocturnal in its habits than 
any other of our species. 

Length, 19-23 ; wing, 16-18 ; tail, 9-11 ; 
tarsus, 2| ; culmen, l\. Northern North 
America ; breeding north of the United 
States, and wintering south to Virginia. 

20. Ferruginous Rough- leg (348. 

Archibuteo ferrugineus). — A large, 

western, somewhat mottled, brownish- 

red hawk, with the under parts white, American *»&***** Hawk 

much barred with rufous across the belly. The tail is grayish- 
white tinged with rufous. The young is 
more grayish-brown, with the base of tail 
white. This is a hawk of the open prairies 
west of the Mississippi. 

Length, 21-25 ; wing, 16-19 ; tail, 9-11 ; tarsus, 
2£ ; cuhnen, \\. "Western North America from 
North Dakota to Texas, and west to the Pacific ; 
breeding from Utah northward ; casually east to 
Illinois. 

21. Golden Eagle (349. Aquila chrysaetos). 
— A very large blackish-brown bird, with 
lighter, almost golden, back head and back 
neck ; base of the tail for more than 
half its length is white, and the tarsus is 
white-feathered to the toes. The young 
is blacker in general plumage, and the base 
Ferruginous Kough-leg of the tail is more or less banded with 




206 



KEY AND DESCBIPTION 



grayish bars. The food consists of the larger mammals 
and birds, though carrion also is eaten ; rabbits, lambs, 
turkeys, and ducks are prey for this bird. Kare east of the 
Mississippi. 

Length, 30-40 ; wing, 23-27 ; tail, 15 ; tarsus, 
4; culmen, 2. Northern portions of Old and 
New Worlds, south in America to Mexico ; breed- 
ing, practically, only in the mountains of sparsely 
settled regions. 



22. Harpy Eagle (350. Thrasaetos 
harpy ia). — A rare Texas eagle, with the 
back ashy-gray, mottled with glossy 
black, and the belly white, more or less 
blotched with ashy. The head and neck 
are grayish, darker on the crown, and 
whiter on the throat. The tail is more 
or less irregularly banded with black and 
ashy. The young has the head, neck, 
and entire lower parts white, with ashy 
gray on crown and breast. 




Golden Eagle 



Length, 33-40; wing, 21-25; tail, 
South America, north to southern Texas and possibly Louisiana. 

23. Bald Eagle (352. Haliceetus (ct-e-tus) leucocqihalus). — A 
very large, dark-colored eagle, with white head, neck, and tail. 
This adult condition is not reached till the third year ; before 
this, the whole plumage is nearly black, but white mottlings 
gradually appear on the portions that finally become entirely 
white. The lower part of the tarsus is bare of feathers and is 
covered w r ith numerous rounded scales. This eagle is seldom 
found far from water, as its food consists principally of fish 
and ducks ; dead fish thrown on the shore, fish stolen from the 
fish hawk, or, if the need is very great, fish captured from the 
water by its own exertions. 

Length, 30-43 ; wing, 20-27 ; tail, 11-15 ; tarsus, 3^ ; culmen, 2\. North 
America, south to Mexico ; breeding locally throughout. 



FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



207 



24. White Gyrfalcon (353. Fdlco isldndus). — This arctic 
falcon, which has been found in northern Maine, is, in good 
plumage, a slightly mottled white all over. There is apt to be 
more or less of brownish and grayish in bars or streaks on the 
shoulders, central tail feathers, and head. 

Length, 22 ; wing, 16 ; tail, 9| ; tarsus, 2| ; _ culmen, 1. Arctic regions, 
wandering; south to northern Maine. 



25. Gray Gyrfalcon (354. Fdlco rusticolus). — A northern fal- 
con, with the upper parts, including the tail, blackish-gray, 
barred with buffy-white, and the 
under parts white, blotched and 
streaked with blackish, but the 
under tail coverts are barred with 
brownish. 

Length, 20-25 ; wing, 13|-16| ; tail, 
8-10 ; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, 1. Arctic 
regions, straggling south in winter to 
the northern United States. The Gyr- 
falcon (354 a . F. r. gyrfalco) of the Arctic 
regions has been found as far south in 
winter as Rhode Island. It is similar to 
the gray gyrfalcon, but lacks the regular 
bars of the upper parts ; sometimes there 
are no bars at all ; the under parts are 
always heavily streaked with blackish. 
The Black Gyrfalcon (351 b . F. r. obso- 
letus) of Labrador is casually found as 
far south as Long Island. This, as its 
common name indicates, is a very dark- 
colored gyrfalcon. The upper and lower parts are an unbarred slaty- 
black ; even the tail is nearly unbarred. All the gyrfalcons are rare in 
the United States. 

26. Prairie Falcon (355. Fdlco mexicclnus). — A bold, grace- 
ful, low-flying, western, grayish-brown falcon, with the lower 
parts white, streaked and spotted with the color of the back. 
The primaries and the inner webs of all but the middle tail 
feathers are blotched or barred with buffy. The young has 
buffy margins to the feathers of the upper parts. This, as its 




Gray Gyrfalcon 



208 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



common name indicates, is a bird of the plains west of the 

Mississippi. 

Length, 16-20 ; wing, 12-14|; tail, 6^-9; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, 1. West- 
ern United States from the eastern border of the Plains to the Pacific ; 

breeding throughout. Casual east to 
Illinois. 

27. Duck Hawk (356. Fdlco pere- 
grlnns dnatum). — A dark, bluish- 
slate-colored hawk, with the under 
parts cream-buff, much spotted 
with black, except on the breast; 
tail indistinctly barred with black- 
ish and tipped with a narrow, white 
band. The young has the blackish 
upper parts margined with orange- 
buffy, and the under side of the 
tail barred with the same. This 
is a beautiful, swift-flying, daring 
bird generally found near the 
water, as it feeds mainly on ducks 
and other, water birds. No bird 

can fly swiftly enough to escape its talons. (Peregrine Falcon ; 

Great-footed Hawk.) 

Length, 14-20; wing, 111-15; tail, 6-9; tarsus, 2; culmen, 1. North 
America, and south to central South America ; breeding locally over 
most of its United States 
range. 

28. Pigeon Hawk 
(357. Fdlco columbci- 
rius). — A small, 
slate-blue hawk, with 
all the under parts 
light creamy or 
brownish, much 
streaked with dark; 
tail with three or four broad, lighter-colored bars, and the 




Prairie Falcon 




Duck Hawk 



FAM. XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



209 



neck usually with a rusty collar. The primaries are barred 
with White. The young has the upper parts blackish and the 
barring of the primaries reddish- 
yellow. The pigeon hawk has a 
resemblance to the wild pigeon both 
when perching and when in flight. It 
is to be found in the open country. 
near the edge of woods, especially 
where there are large bodies of 
water. Its food consists mainly of 
small birds and insects. (American 
Merlin.) 

Length, 10-13 ; wing, 7|-8| ; tail, 5± ; 
tarsus, If ; culmen, \ or more. North 
America ; breeding north of the United 
States, and wintering through most of 
the states and into northern South 
America. 

29. Richardson's Merlin (358. 
Fdlco richardsdnii). — A western, Pigeon Hawk 
very small, bluish - gray - backed 

hawk, with the lower parts including the front of the head 
whitish, much streaked with brown to black, especially on the 
breast and sides. The chin and throat are about the only por- 
tions without any shaft streaks on the feathers; even the 
brown back is so marked with black. Tail with five blackish, 
five grayish, and one terminal white band. The female has the 
back more earthy-brown in color, and the outer webs of the 
quills marked with buffy spots (the male has these spots light- 
grayish.) (Richardson's Pigeon Hawk.) 

Length, 10-13^ ; wing, 7|-9| ; tail, 4|-6^ ; tarsus, H ; culmen, | or 
more. North America from the Mississippi to the Pacific, north into the 
British Possessions, and south to Texas and probably Mexico. 

30. Aplomado Falcon (359. Fdlco fusco-coeruJescens). — A 
Texas, medium-sized, heavy-billed, lead-colored falcon, with 
the chin, throat, and breast unspotted white; sides and a 

apgar's birds. — 14 




210 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



broad belly band blackish-barred, and the thighs and lower tail 
coverts rusty or reddish-brown; tail tipped with white and 
crossed by about eight narrow, white bands. The young is 
duller colored, with the back inclined to brownish. 

Length, 15-18; wing, 9i-lli ; tail, 6£-8f ; tarsus, If; culmen, 1. 
South America north to southern Texas and Arizona. 

31. American Sparrow Hawk (3G0. Fdlco sjxtrueruis). — A 
common, beautiful, little hawk, with much chestnut on back and 

tail, and usually on 
crown also. The 
wings are slaty- 
blue, with black and 
white barred prima- 
ries, and the tail 
has a black band 
near the white tip. 
The white cheek has 
a black patch both 
in front and behind 
it. The under parts 
are buffy, very 
heavily streaked 
with darker in the 




American Sparrow Hawk 



female. The wing coverts are slaty-blue in the male, and chest- 
nut, barred with black, in the female. With almost all other 
hawks the male is much the smaller bird, but in this species 
there is but little, if any, variation in size.' Generally the 
sexes are colored alike, but in this case there is a decided 
difference in markings. This is an insect-eating hawk, though 
mice and small birds form part of its diet. (Rusty-crowned 
Falcon ; Killy Hawk.) 

Length, 8f-12 ; wing, 6|-8 ; tail, 41-6 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, }. North 
America from the Rocky Mountains eastward ; breeding from the Gulf 
States to Hudson Bay, and wintering from New Jersey southward. The 
Cuban Sparrow Hawk (361. Fdlco dominicensis) , which has been found 
casually in southern Florida, has the rufous coloring only on the breast 



FAIL XXIX. HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



211 




Audubon's Caracara 



and neighboring lower parts ; the female and young male Lave a touch of 
the same tint on the back. The so-called " mustache " stripe, which is so 
plain on the cheek of the 
American sparrow hawk, 
is hardly to be noticed in 
the Cuban species. The 
Cuban bird has a conspic- 
uous white line over the 
eye, wanting in the other. 
There is a color phase of 
the Cuban sparrow hawk, 
in which the usual rufous 
coloring of the under parts 
is lacking. 

32. Audubon's Cara- 
cara (362. Polyborus 
cheriway). — An ex- 
treme southern, large, 
dark-colored bird, 
strong in flight, with 
bare, red skin on face, bufly neck and breast, and white tail, 
tipped and barred with black. These birds associate with the 
buzzards and vultures, feeding on carrion 
as they do, but in their flight there is 
no resemblance. Besides the carrion, 
they eat many kinds of reptiles, which 
they capture for themselves. 

Length, 20-25; wing, 141-161; tail, 8-10; 
tarsus, 3|; culmen, If. Florida, Texas, and 
Arizona, south to northern South America ; 
breeding in all sections of the United States 
where found. 

33. American Osprey (364. Pdndion 
haliaetus carolinensis). — A large, black- 
ish-backed, white-bellied bird, with much 
white on top of head and upper neck. 
Tail with six to eight obscure bands, 
more distinct below. It is seen flying 
American Osprey slowly over the water of our coasts, 




212 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



watching for the fish which form its only food. When its 
prey is seen, it closes its wings and drops with wonderful 
velocity into the water, and generally it secures the fish ob- 
served. Its food is usually eaten while the bird is perched 
on some favorite tree in the vicinity of its fishing grounds. 
These birds live in colonies of greater or less size, and return 
each year to their old nesting place. (Fish Hawk.) 

Length, 20-25; wing, 17-21; tail, 7-10; tarsus, 2\; culmen, 1£. North 
America and northern South America; breeding throughout its North 
American range, and wintering along the South Atlantic States and south- 
ward. 

FAMILY XXX. AMERICAN VULTURES (CATHARTID.E) 

A small family (8 species) of New World vultures of large 
size, living upon decaying flesh, and having the head and much 
of the neck bare of feathers. 1 Our species are in 
size and appearance much like turkeys. The bill is 
more lengthened and weaker than in the other fami- 
lies of birds 
of prey (Raptores), and 
the feathers are very 
dark and dull colored. 
In all the southern 
states these birds can 
usually be seen sailing 
in great circles in the 
air. 

1. Turkey Vulture 

(325. Cathdrtes aiwo). 
— A very large black 
bird, with bare neck 
and head, seen abun- 
dantly in the Southern 
States, soaring in 
graceful circles with 
During life the skin 





Turkey Vulture 
outstretched wings, throughout the day 



FAM. XXX. AMERICAN VULTURES 2l3 

of the head and neck, and the base of the bill are bright red. 
The tail rounded and the nostril large and broad. The edges of 
the glossy-black feathers are brownish. This is a very useful 
bird, as its only food is dead and decaying animal matter. 
In southern towns this and the next species are depended upon 
to keep the streets free from carrion. (Turkey Buzzard.) 

Length, 26-32; wing, 20-24; tail, 101-12; tarsus, 2*-; culinen, 2\. 
Temperate North America (and all of South America) from New Jersey, 
Ohio, and British Columhia south to Patagonia ; breeding and wintering 
about throughout. 

2. Black Vulture (326. Catharista atrcita). — A bird similar 
to the last, but smaller, stouter, and blacker; the bare skin 
of head and neck and 
base of bill is also 
blackish. Its heavier 
weight and shorter 
wings make it more 
labored in flight, so 
the flapping of the 
wings is more fre- 
quent. This differ- 
ence in flying, the rel- 
atively short, square 
tail, the silvery under 
surface of the wing 
quills and the small 
and narrow nostril 
will enable any one 

to distinguish this bird from the last. The black vulture is 
much more common near the seacoast, and decidedly more 
abundant in cities and towns. 

Length, 22-27 ; wing, 16i-17| ; tail, 71-81 ; tarsus, 3 ; culmen, 2\. 
South Atlantic and Gulf States, and southward throughout most of South 
America ; breeding in the United States from North Carolina to Texas, 
northward in the Mississippi Valley to Illinois and Kansas, and straggling 
to New England and South Dakota. 




214 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

ORDER VII. PIGEONS, ETC. (COLUMB^E) 

An order represented, in our region, only by the following : 

FAMILY XXXI. PIGEONS (COLTJMBID.E) 

This large family (300 species) of land birds, found in the 
warmer regions of all portions of the earth, is represented in 
the eastern United States by but few species, only four being 
found north of southern Texas and southern Florida. They 
cannot be said to frequent any particular kind of haunt; 
many live most of the time on the ground, some are tree 
birds, some seek open places, while others are to be found 
only in forests. They are short-billed, small, round-headed, 
plump-bodied, short-legged, smooth-plumaged birds, with a 
peculiar, more or less iridescent, grayish and brownish colora- 
tion. In one way they are very different in habit from other 
birds ; they hold the bill in the water till they finish drinking, 
instead of raising the head at each mouthful. Most species 
produce a whistling sound of the wings while in flight. 

Key to the Species 

* Wings, 7-9 long. (D.) 

* Wings, 5-7 long. (A.) 

* Wings, 3-4 long ; tail shorter than the wings, 2 J -3 long 

8. Ground Dove. 

* Wings, 3-4 long; tail longer than the wings, 3|-4i long. 9. Inca Dove. 
A. Tail about the length of the wings, 5i or more. 4. Mourning Dove. 
A. Tail nearly two inches shorter than the wings ; southern doves. 

mainly of Florida and Texas. (B.) 

B. Forehead white, changing to bluish-gray on the crown 

6. White-fronted Dove. 

B. Forehead not white. (C.) 

C. A conspicuous white patch on the wing coverts 

7. White-winged Dove. 

C. No white wing patch or white stripe under the eye 

5. Zenaida Dove. 

C. No white wing patch, but a broad white band under the eye 

10 and 11. Quail Doves. 

D. Tail as long as the wings- 3. Passenger Pigeon. 



FAM. XXXI. PIGEONS 215 

D. Tail an inch and a half shorter than the wings. (E.) 
E. Neck all around of the same color and without metallic gloss 

1. Red-billed Pigeon. 

E. Top of head white or pale buffy ; hind neck with a cape of metallic 

bronze ; each feather of the cape edged with velvety black 

2. White-crowned Pigeon. 

1. Red-billed Pigeon (313. Columba flavirdstris). — A dark, 
richly colored pigeon of Texas, with the head, neck, and breast 
a purplish wine-color, and the back olive-brown with a bronzy 
gloss. Other portions of the body more or less slate-colored. 
Tail rounded and without white tips to its feathers. Base of 
bill red in life. 

Length, 14 ; wing, 7| ; tail, 5^ ; tarsus, | ; culmen, only ^, because of 
the curious extension of the frontal feathers. Arizona to Texas, and 
southward to Central America. 

2. White-crowned Pigeon (311. Columba leucocephala). — A 
large, rare, southern, rich-slate-colored pigeon, with a white 
crown (pale buffy on the female), and greenish, metallic reflec- 
tions on the hind neck. The feathers of this " cape " are edged 
with velvety black, and have a bronzy luster. 

Length, 12-14 ; wing, 7J (7-7|) ; tail, 5| ; culmen, f . Southern 
Florida, West Indies, and coast of Honduras. 

3. Passenger Pigeon (315. Ectopistes migratdrius). — A large, 
long-tailed, slate-blue-backed pigeon, w T ith the lower parts 
chestnut-colored to- 
ward the chin, and 
whitish toward the 
tail. Tail pointed, 
and the outer (un- 
der) feathers with 
much white ; sides 
of the neck with a 
purplish iridescence. 
The female has the Passenger Pigeon 

upper parts less, iridescent, and the lower parts decidedly 
grayish. Probably the largest number of birds of any kind 




216 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



ever seen together were in the flocks of passenger pigeons early 
in the nineteenth century; single flocks were carefully esti- 
mated, and declared to contain more birds than there are 
human inhabitants on the whole earth. ISTow at the close of 
the century they are practically extinct. (Wild Pigeon.) 

Length, 15-17 ; wing, 8J (7|-8|) ; tail, 8J- ; culmen f. North America 
from the Great Plains eastward and north to Hudson Bay ; breeding now 
only along the northern border of the United States and in Canada. 
Stragglers have'been found as far west as Washington. 

4. Mourning Dove (316. Zenaidura macroura). — A very com- 
mon, pointed-tailed, brownish-backed, ground dove, with brown- 
ish to yellow or buff 
under parts. The 
sides of neck are 
brightly iridescent, 
with a small, black 
mark below the ear. 
Tail feathers with a 
black bar, and the 
outer (under) ones 
tipped with white. 
This species resem- 
bles the last in ap- 
pearance, but is much smaller. During the breeding season, 
these birds are usually in single pairs in open woodlands. 
Later in the season they are to be found in grain fields in 
flocks, sometimes of great size. The peculiarly sad coo-o-coo- 
o-oing of the male has led to the application of the common 
name. (Wild Dove ; Turtle Dove.) 

Length, 11-13; wing, 6|j tail, 5| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, }. Temperate 
North America ; breeding from southern Canada southward, and wintering 
from southern Pennsylvania to Panama. 

5. Zenaida Dove (317. Zendida zenciida). — A rare, extreme 
southern, short-square-tailed, olive-brown-backed, reddish-bel- 
lied dove, with the secondary wing quills tipped with white, 
and the outer tail feathers having a black band near the ashy 




Mourning Dove 



FAM. XXXI. PIGEONS 217 

tips. The neck has a metallic iridescence, and a velvety black 
spot on the sides. Though the bird is often found on the 
branches of trees, it spends most of its time on the ground. 

Length, 10} ; wing, 6^; tail, 4J ; cuhnen, f. Florida Keys, Bahamas, 
West Indies, and coast of Yucatan. 

6. White-fronted Dove (318. Leptdtila fulciventris brachyp- 
tera). — An extreme southern, large, silky, brownish-olive- 
backed dove, with much of the head and neck iridescently 
coppery-purplish, but the forehead white, and the top of the 
head bluish with a •'• bloom." Belly and chin are pure white, 
fore breast wine-color, and other under parts more or less shaded 
with the tint of the back. The outer (under) tail feathers are 
slate-colored, tipped with white. 

Length, 12; wing, 6^; tail, 4| ; tarsus, 1}; culmen, f. Mexico and 
Central America, north to southern Texas. 

7. White-winged Dove (319. IMopZlia leucdptera). — An ex- 
treme southwestern, common, generally bluish-ashy dove, with 
a large white blotch on the wings, which are formed of the 
wing coverts and the tips of the secondary quills. The mid- 
dle tail feathers are much like those of the back, but the 
outer (under) ones are slaty, with conspicuous white tips. The 
sides of the head and neck are iridescent with golden-green, 
and marked with a steel-blue spot. The wing quills are 
mainly black, but somewhat white-edged. 

Length, 12 ; wing, 6h (6J-6f) ; tail. 4| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, |. South- 
ern border of the United States, Florida. Texas, Arizona, and south- 
ward to Central America and the West Indies ; straggling north to 
Colorado. 

8. Ground Dove (320. Columbigairraa jiassenna terrestris). — 
A common, very small, southern, ground-living, grayish-olive- 
backed, purplish-red-bellied dove, with a gloss of blue on the 
head and neck. 'Female grayish below instead of purplish. 
This fearless bird can be found almost everywhere in the 
south, from city streets to dense pine growths, but is more 
common near the coast. 



218 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 6| ; wing, 3* ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, f ; culmen, h South Atlantic 
and Gulf States, West Indies, and northern South America ; breeding 
from South Carolina to Louisiana. 

9. Inca Dove (321. Scardafella inca). — A Texas clove, with 
a peculiar scaled appearance due to the crescent-shaped black 
marks on most of the feathers, especially abundant on the 
belly. The upper parts are grayish-brown, and the lower 
parts ashy-lilac in front and ochraceous at the back. There 

is much rich chest- 
nut on the wings ; the 
middle tail feathers 
are like those of the 
back, but the outer 
(under) ones are 
blackish, with white 
tips. (Scaled Dove.) 

Length, 8 ; wing, 3| ; 
tail, 4 ; tarsus, }, ; cul- 
men, nearly J. Mexico, 
north to Texas and Ari- 
zona, and south to Cen- 
tral America. 

10. Key West Quail- 
Dove (322. Geotrygon 
martinica). — A rare, 
Florida, very irides- 
cent, wine-red dove, 
with the under parts lighter and more creamy, and, toward 
the tail, white. A plain white band below the eyes. This 
is a ground dove found in wooded regions. 




Ground Dove 



Length, 11 ; wing, 6| ; tail, 5 ; culmen, 
found on the Florida Keys in the summer. 



A West Indian dove, 



11. Blue-headed Quail-Dove (323. Stamoenas cyanocepliala). 
— A rare, Florida, blue-crowned, black-throated, chocolate- 
backed, cream-buff-bellied dove, with a white line beneath the 
eye. This quail-dove is much like the last, both in habits and 



FAM. XXXII. CUR AS SOWS 219 

appearance, and they both get their common name from the 
fact that in form they resemble the quail. They have short, 
broad tails, without white tips to the under feathers. 

Length, 11 ; wing, 5£ ; tail, 4| ; culmen, \. Cuba and accidentally on 
the Florida Keys. 

ORDER VIII. GALLINACEOUS BIRDS (GALLING) 

The birds of this order derive their name from their charac- 
teristic habit of scratching the ground in search of food, which 
trait is almost exclusively confined to them. Nearly all of our 
representatives belong to the Grouse Family. 

FAMILY XXXII. CURASSOWS (CRACIDJE) 

This small family (15 species) of tropical American birds is 
represented, in southern Texas, by the following : 

1. Chachalaca (311. Ortalis vetula maccdlli). — A crested, 
long-tailed, large, slender, generally olive-green-colored, ground 
bird, with naked sides to the head, and naked stripes on the 
chin. The tail is a bright lustrous green, and the under parts 
are least bright and least green. The outer (under) tail 
feathers are tipped with whitish. A peculiar bird, easily 
domesticated, and very noisy in the breeding season, with 
notes which are expressed in its name. 

Length, 20-24 ; wing, 8 (7±-9) ; tail, 9-11 ; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, f. 
Mexico and Central America, north to southern Texas. 

FAMILY XXXIII. PHEASANTS, TURKEYS, ETC. (PHASIA- 

NID.E) 

This family (nearly 100 species) of Old World fowl in- 
cludes all our birds of the barnyard, except the ducks, the 
geese, and the pigeons. They have one distinctive difference 
from the members of the next family in that the males have 
spurs on their legs. Our only native species is the following : 

1. Wild Turkey (310. Meledgris gallopdvo). — Avery large, 
broad-tailed, lustrous-plum aged, game bird, with head and 



220 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



upper neck bare of feathers, and with more or less of erectile 
processes on the bare portions. The breast is furnished with 
a tuft of hair-like feathers, and the tail feathers and upper tail 

coverts are tipped 
with chestnut. The 
common domestic 
turkey has white 
tips to the tail feath- 
ers and tail coverts. 
This noble game bird 
of wooded regions is 
the original of the 
domestic race, and is 
becoming each year 
more rare. This wild 
species is divided 
into four varieties, 
the form given and 
the three following. 

Length, 40-50 ; wing, 
18-22; tail, 16-19. 
United States from 
Chesapeake Bay south- 
ward to the Gulf of 
Wild Turkey Mexico and westward 

to the Plains. The Mex- 
ican Turkey (310 a . 31. g. mexicana) of the southwest, from Texas to 
Arizona, and southward into Mexico, has the upper tail coverts tipped 
with buffy white. The Florida Wild Turkey (310b. j/. ffm osceola) of 
southern Florida is a smaller, and darker bird. The primaries are much 
less regularly barred with white. The Rio Grande Turkey (310 c . 31. g. 
ellioti) of the lowlands of Texas and northeastern Mexico can be dis- 
tinguished from all the others by the dark buff edgings on the tail, and 
upper and lower tail coverts, in contrast with the white on the same parts 
of the Mexican turkey, and the deep, dark, reddish-chestnut of the com- 
mon wild turkey. The brilliantly colored European and Ring-necked 
Pheasants have been introduced and more or less acclimated in several of 
the states. The males are 36 long and the females 25 long. The females 
are plainly colored. As most of the specimens are hybrid forms descrip- 
tions would be of little value. 




FAM. XXX1Y. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. 221 

FAMILY XXXIV. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. (TETRA- 
ONID.E) 

A large family (100 or more species) of game birds of all 
countries, living almost entirely on the ground, and having 
mainly brown and gray colors. They have the habit of hiding 
rather than flying to escape the gunners, and, if it were not 
for the ability of dogs to detect their presence, they would 
generally escape the fowler's shot. When they fly, their flight 
is rapid, accompanied by a whirring noise caused by the beating 
of their small, concave wings. Like the hens of the barnyard 
they scratch the ground to obtain their food, which consists of 
worms, insects, seeds, etc. They are generally large birds 
with short bills, heavy bodies, short, more or less feathered 
legs, and, in many species, rather long tails. (For European 
Pheasants, see p. 220.) 

Key to the Species 

* Wing, 10 or more long ; tail stiff and pointed and about as long as the 

wing 11. Sage Grouse. 

* Wing, 8-10 long. (C.) 

* Wing, 6-8 long. (B.) 

* Wing, 4-6 long ; tarsus bare of feathers. (A.) 

A. Tail less than an inch shorter than the wing ; Texas 

2. Scaled Partridge. 

A. Tail about 2 inches shorter than the wing ; common. 1. Bob-white. 

A. Tail nearly 3 inches shorter than the wing ; Texas 

3. Massena Partridge. 

B. Tarsus bare of feathers for half its length 6. Ruffed Grouse. 

B. Tarsus entirely feathered, but the toes bare 5. Canada Grouse. 

B. Tarsus and toes entirely feathered 7. Ptarmigans. 

C. Tail about 2 inches shorter than the wings and square 

4. Dusky Grouse. 

C. Tail, 31—5 inches shorter than the wings. (D.) 

D. Tail pointed, wedge-shaped ; tarsus full feathered 

10. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 

D. Tail rounded. (E.) 

E. Tarsus full feathered, no bare stripe behind 8. Prairie Hens. 

E. Tarsus scantly feathered, exposing a bare stripe behind 

9. Lesser Prairie Hen. 



222 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



1. Bob-white (289. Cotinus virginianus). — A common grass- 
inhabiting, brownish-mottled, white-throated, game bird, with 

the belly much lighter 
than the back. The 
female has a buff 
throat patch instead 
of the white of the 
male. The notes bob- 
white so often heard 
in spring are given by 
this bird. In sum- 
mer, the crown is 
blacker, and the buffy 
markings lighter than 
in winter. The tints 
of the back have 
much of reddish- 
brown and chestnut, 
and the lower breast 
(Quail ; Virginia Par- 




Bob-white 



and belly are white barred with black, 
tridge.) 

Length, 10 ; wing,4i (4|-4|) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, li ; culmen, |. United 
States from Kansas eastward and north to southern Ontario. It is also 
found locally in many places west of the Rocky Mountains, even to the 
Pacific. The Florida Bob-white (289 a . C. v.JJoridanus) of Florida is a 
smaller bird, with darker plumage, especially with more black on the back. 
The regular northern bob-w r hite will occasionally take to the trees when 
flushed, but the Florida bird is more apt to do so. The Texan Bob-white 
(289 b . C. v. texanus) of Texas and Mexico is a small bird like the last, 
but paler, having much gray and tawny in the plumage. 

2. Scaled Partridge (293. CalUpepla squamata). — A Texas, 
crested, bluish-lead-colored quail, with the neck and most under 
parts peculiarly " scaled " by crescent-shaped black tips to all 
the feathers. The crest is dark brown, ending in pure white, 
and the back belly orange-brown. (Blue Quail.) 

Length, 10-12 ; wing, 4£ (4i-5) ; tail, 4\ ; tarsus, li. Table-lands of 
•Mexico, north to central Texas and southern Arizona. 



FAM. XXXIV. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. 223 



3. Massena Partridge (296. Cyrtonyx montezUmce). — A Texas, 
crested, short-tailed, brownish and purplish quail, with the 
sides of the head and neck fantastically marked with black 
and white stripes, and the sides of the body crowded with 
numerous round white dots on a dark ground. The middle 
line of breast and belly is mahogany-colored, the under tail 
coverts are black, and the crest is brown. The female lacks 
the peculiar black and white stripes of the head, and the sides 
are mottled instead of dotted. The prevailing color of the 
female is pinkish-cinnamon. 

Length, 9 ; wing, 4| ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, \\. Table-lands of Mexico, 
north to western Texas and Arizona. 

4. Dusky Grouse (297. Dendrdgapus obscurus). — A large, 
Eocky Mountain, dark brown to blackish grouse, with slate- 
colored belly, a rather 
short, broad tail, near- 
ly white throat patch, 
and red, bare skin 
around the eyes. This 
bird is finely mottled 
with lighter tints ev- 
erywhere, and the tail 
is tipped with a dis- 
tinct gray band. 

Length, 18-24 ; wing, 
91 (81-10); tail, 7| ; cul- 
f. Rocky Moun- 




Scaled Partridge 



men, 

tains from central Montana east to the Black Hills of South Dakota and 

west to Nevada. 

5. Canada Grouse (298. Dendrdgapus canadensis). — A large, 
northern, forest-living, short-billed, dark-colored grouse, with 
much white mottling, especially on the under parts. There 
are brown tips to the tail feathers and a red patch of bare 
skin over the eyes. The female is much browner, especially 
on the head and neck. These birds have the upper parts 
much barred with blacks, grays, and browns. They are com- 



224 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



mon in the evergreen forests of the north, and are usually resi- 
dent where found. (Spruce Partridge.) 

Length, 14f— 17 ; wing, 7 (6J-7f) ; tail, 5 ; culraen, \. Northern por- 
tions of Minnesota, Michigan, New York, and New England, and north- 
ward and westward to Alaska. 

6. Ruffed Grouse (300. Bondtsa umbMlus). — A large, common, 
woodland-living, brown-mottled grouse, with a glossy black ruff 
of feathers on each side of the neck, and a dark band near the 

end of the broad, fan- 
shaped tail. The fe- 
male has the neck ruff 
much smaller. The 
male produces a loud 
"drumming" noise by 
rapidly beating the 
air with his wings. 
This bird is improper- 
ly called " partridge n 
in the New England 
States, and just as im- 
properly " pheasant " 
in the Middle and 
Ruffed arouse Southern States. 

Length, 151-19 ; wing, 7|- (7-7 f) ; tail, 6i ; culmen, §. United States 
from Minnesota eastward, north to southern Canada and south to Georgia, 
Mississippi, and Arkansas. The Canadian Ruffed Grouse (300 a . B. u. 
togata), of the spruce forests of the northern portions of New York and 
New England, north to the southern portion of Hudson Bay, and west- 
ward to Oregon and British Columbia, differs in having the upper parts 
gray rather than reddish-brown, and the lower parts, including the breast 
and belly, fully barred. 

7. Willow Ptarmigan (301. Lagbpus lagbpus). — An extreme 
northern, large ptarmigan with blackish outer tail feathers, and 
a coloration of body depending on the season. In winter the 
whole body is white ; in summer the back, head, and neck are 
mottled in browns or rufous. The female in summer has the 
plumage more regularly and more fully barred with rufous. 




FAM. XXXIV. GROUSE, PARTRIDGES, ETC. 225 



This is an abundant bird in the Arctic regions, but does not 
nest farther south than central Labrador, though in winter 
it migrates southward, even into northern New 
York. The ptarmigans have the toes fully 
feathered. 

Length, 14-17 ; wing, 7| ; tail, 4| ; culmen, 
\. Northern portions of the northern hem- 
isphere ; south in winter occasionally 
into the northern border of the United 
States. The Rock Ptarmigan (302. 
Laybpus rupestris), of Arctic Amer- 
ica south to the Gulf of . St. 
Lawrence, has in winter 
the outer tail feathers 
blackish, generally tipped 
with white, and the lores 
black, while the rest of the 
plumage is pure white. In 
summer it has mottled and barred grayish plumage with almost no rufous. 
Welch's Ptarmigan (303. Lagbpus ivelcM), of Newfoundland, has hi win- 
ter the whole tail blackish, except the white tips of the central feathers, 
and the lores black, while the rest of the plumage is white. In summer 
the upper parts are black with wavy lines of buff and white, and the 
belly white. Probably none but the Willow Ptarmigan has ever been 
found in the United States. 




Willow Ptarmigan 



8. Prairie Hen (305. Tympanuchus americclmis). — A large, 
ground-living, short-tailed, very much mottled, brownish, some- 
what crested grouse, 
with a tuft of ten or 
more, narrow, stiff- 
ened, mottled, black 
feathers on the side 
of the neck, under 
which there is a 
patch of bare, inflat- 
able, yellow skin. 
The peculiar neck 
feathers have their 
Prairie Hen tips rounded, and 




APGAR'S BIRDS. 



1-5 



226 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

the rounded, blackish tail is white tipped. The female has the 

neck tufts much smaller. This is a bird of the open prairies, 

rarely found, except during severe storms, within timbered 

tracts. (Pinnated Grouse ; Prairie Chicken.) 

Length, 17-19 ; wing, 9 (8£-9£); tail, 4 ; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, f. Prairies 
of the Mississippi Valley, south to Louisiana, east to Ohio, north to 
Ontario, and west to Nebraska. The Heath Hen (306. Tympanuchus 
cupido) , of Martha's Vineyard (formerly New England and Middle States), 
differs from the last in that the neck tufts consist of less than ten pointed 
feathers. There are but few (less than 100) of these birds left on the 
island. 

9. Lesser Prairie Hen (307. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). — A 
southwestern bird similar to the common prairie hen in dimen- 
sions of parts, but paler and browner in color, and with the 
tarsus much less fully feathered. The darker bars of the back 
appear in sets of threes, there being a continuous broad bar 
inclosed between two narrower and darker ones in 
each set. From Texas to Kansas along the eastern 
edge of the Great Plains. 

Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse (308 b . Pedioccetes 

[ped-i-e-se-tes'] phasianellus campestris). — 

A large, northwestern, sharp-tailed, 

very much mottled, brownish 

grouse, with the central tail 

feathers projecting and 

rounded at tip, and 

the outer ones sharp- 

pointed. There 

are no neck tufts of 

peculiar feathers, but 
Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse 

the breast has many 

V-shaped, black marks. The middle of the belly is white. 

This is a somewhat migratory bird, living in the open prairies 

in summer, and in wooded tracts in winter. 

Length, 15-19 ; wing, 8| ; tail, 4| ; culmen, |. Plains and prairies of 
the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, east to Illinois, and south 
to New Mexico. 




FAM. XXXV. J AC AN AS 227 

11. Sage Grouse (309. Centrocercus urophasidbnus). — Avery 
large, western, much-mottled, dark-colored grouse, with long, 
sharp-pointed tail feathers, and having inflatable, bare skin on 
the sides of the breast. The female has a shorter tail. 

Length, 24-30; wing, 12 (10^-13); tail, 8-13; culmen, If. Sage- 
brush regions of the Rocky Mountains, east to North Dakota, Nebraska, 
and Colorado, south to New Mexico, and west to California. 

ORDER IX. SHORE BIRDS (LIMICOL^J) 

A large order of plover-like and snipe-like birds, usually 
found in open places, near the water. They are most of them 
small ; they have slender and frequently long bills, small and, 
as a rule, fully feathered heads, long-pointed wings, short 
tails, and long legs, with more or less of the tibia exposed and 
bare of feathers. A few species have the legs short and the 
tibia fully feathered. The hind toe is short and elevated, or 
completely wanting (with one exception, the jacana of the 
first family). With us this order is represented by seven 
families. 

FAMILY XXXV. JACANAS (JACAMDiR) 

A small family (10 species) of peculiar, somewhat 
plover-like, wading birds, with very long toes and 
long, straight claws, the hind claw fully as long as 
the toe. 1 

1. Mexican Jacana (288. Jacana spinbsa). — A small, Texas, 
long-legged, long-toed, purplish-chestnut-colored, wading bird 
with a horny, yellow spur on the bend of the wing, and a pecul- 
iar, yellow, leaf-like lobe of skin extending on the forehead 
from the plover-like bill. The rich chestnut color is brightest 
on the wings and tail, and darkest on the back, breast, and 
sides. The young is grayish-brown above, buffy below, and has 
but little of the frontal lobe of skin. 

Length, 8 \ ; wing, 5 (4^-5|) ; tail very short and soft ; tarsus, 2 ; mid- 
dle toe and nail, 2\ ; culmen, 1^. Southern Texas, Mexico, and Central 
America. 




228 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



FAMILY XXXVI. OYSTER-CATCHERS (H^EMATOPODID^) 

The birds of this small family (10 species) are found only on 

the outer beaches of ocean shores, searching for the 

^* shellfish left by the receding tide. They are large 

birds, with stout, long, hard bills, 1 stout, rather 

short legs, and pointed tails. Our one species has 

but three toes. 

1. American Oyster-catcher (286. Hce.mdtopuspaTlid.tus). — A 
large, shy, rather solitary, long, red-billed, three-toed, seacoast 
bird, with black head, neck, and back, and white belly. There 
is a large, white patch on the center of the wing and also 

on the rump. When 
disturbed, it gives a 
shrill cry and flies 
to a great distance. 
It runs swiftly or 
walks in a stately 
manner, and feeds 
mainly on bivalves, 
which it opens with 
its long, strong bill. 




American Oyster catcher 



Length, 17-21; wing, 
10i (10-12) ; tail, 4$ ; 
tarsus, 2f ; culmen, 3-4. 
Seacoast of America, from New Jersey to Patagonia (occasionally north 
to Massachusetts) ; breeding along the Southern States, and wintering 
south of the United States. 



FAMILY XXXVII. TURNSTONES, ETC. (APHRIZIMT) 

A small family (4 species) of seacoast birds of rather small 
size, short, hard bill, and (for shore birds) short legs. 

1. Turnstone (283. Arendtria intirpres). — A common, shore- 
living, stout-billed, brightly marked bird, with a back marked 
like calico, and a white belly with a black breast patch. The 
center of the back, as seen while flying with scapulars separated, 




"* - - - ' ""■<; _ " 



FAM. XXXVIII. PLOVERS 229 

is white. In summer there is much rufous, black, and white on 
the upper parts ; in winter the bright, reddish-brown is lacking, 
and the colors of the back are mainly blacks and grays. This 
bird is often seen 
turning over stones 
and shells along the 
outer shore for food. 
(Calicoback.) 

Length, 9| ; wing, 6 ; 
tail, .2^ ; tarsus, 1 ; cul- 
nien, |. Along nearly all 
shores of lakes, rivers, Turnstone 

and oceans. In the New 

World, from Greenland to the southern part of South America. More or 
less common along the great rivers and lakes of the interior ; breeding 
in the Arctic regions, and wintering mainly south of the equator. 

FAMILY XXXVIII. PLOVERS (CHARADRIID^E) 

This large family (100 species) of snipe-like birds with long 
wings, short, pigeon-shaped bills, 1 and (in most spe- 
cies) three toes, is represented throughout the world, 
though ojily eight species are found in Xorth America. 
These are short-billed, round-headed, short-necked, 
plump-bodied, long-winged, short-tailed, wading birds with (in 
most species) rather short legs for waders, and but three toes. 

Many species inhabit the shores of water, both salt and 
fresh, but some are found on the dryest plains. They move 
rapidly when running or flying, and their note is a mellow 
whistle. 

Key to the Species 

* A hind toe present about \ long. 

— Head without crest 1. Black-bellied Plover. 

— Head crested; back metallic green. The Lapwing (269. Vanel- 
lus vanellas) of the Old World has once been seen on Long Island. 
Wing, 8*-9; culmen, 1. 

* Toes only three ; hind toe absent. (A.) 

A. Plumage speckled on the back with whitish or yellow 

2. American Golden Plover. 




280 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



A. Plumage of the back about uniform in color. (B.) 

B. Wing, 6-7 long ; rump, orange-brown 3. Killdeer. 

B. Wing, 5^-6 long ; no black band across breast. .8. Mountain Plover. 
B. Wing less than 5* long. (C.) 

C. Culmen, f or more long ; a black or dark brown band across breast 

7. Wilson's Plover. 

C. Culmen about f long ; no black band across breast 

6. Snowy Plover. 

C. Culmen less than f long. (D.) 
D. All toes distinctly webbed at base ; l feathers black be- 
tween the eye and the bill 4. Semipalmated Plover. 

D. Inner toes without distinct webbing ; no black from the eye to the 
bill 5. Piping Plover. 

1. Black-bellied Plover (270. Charddrius squat&rola). — As 
seen in the autumn and winter in the United States : a 
short-billed, short-tailed, large (for a plover), mottled, grayish- 
brown, shore bird, 
with grayish or whit- 
ish under parts mot- 
■^iraSQpj^B*^^ tied with more or less 
^^q\££^^ A^r of blackish on the 

- 1 ** breast. This is our 

only plover with a 
hind toe ; rt is mi- 
nute, being only about 
i inch long. The bird 
derives its name from 
its verv black under 

Black-bellied Plover ." ., . , . 

parts, m the breeding 

season, in the far north. During its northward migration in 

the spring, it is found with a more or less complete black breast 

and fore belly. The axillary plumes 2 (long feathers 

growing from the armpit and seen underneath the 

wings) are black. (Black-breast ; Bull-head Plover ; 

Beetle-head.) 

Length, Hi; wing, 1\ (7-7^) ; tail, 3; tarsus, 2; culmen, \\. Gen- 
erally throughout the northern hemisphere, though not confined to it; 
breeding far north, and wintering in Florida, the West Indies, and 
northern South America. 




FAM. XX XV III. PLOVERS 231 

2. American Golden Plover (272. Gharddrius dominicus). — As 
seen in the United States, a short-billed, three-toed shore 
bird, with the entire upper parts blackish, brightly dotted and 
marked with golden and whitish spots, and the lower parts 
grayish-white, with brownish streakings on the sides. In late 
spring, while migrating northward, some of these birds are 
seen with the black bellies of the breeding season. These 
graceful, quick-moving birds are found in marshes and old 
fields as well as on the sand flats exposed by the tide. They 
have the habit, common among plovers, of rapidly running a 
few yards, then stopping, elevating the head and looking 
around. (Greenback.) 

Length, 9i-ll ; wing, 7 (6|-7f) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, f . 
America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering from Florida to 
Patagonia. 

3. Killdeer (273. ^Egialltis vocifera). — A common, noisy, 
active, beautifully marked, short-billed, three-toed, brown- 
backed, white-bellied plover, with two dark bands across the 
breast, the upper one extending around the neck. The rump 
is very brightly colored, often decidedly red, and the wings have 
much black and white. This bird is very abundant, spending 
most of the time on the ground, often far from water. Its 
shrill notes give it its name, Ml-dee. Though scattered while 
feeding, it usually moves in flocks when on the wing. 

Length, 10| ; wing, 6| (6-6|) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 1| ; cnlmen, f. United 
States, north to Newfoundland and Manitoba ; breeding throughout, and 
wintering from Virginia to northern South America, including the West 
Indies. 

4. Semipalmated Plover (274. ^EgiaTltis semipcdm&ta). — A 

common, short-billed, ashy-brown-backed, white-bellied plover, 
with a rather broad, complete ring of black around the neck, 
and distinctly marked black, white, and brown head, including 
a black band from the. eye to the bill. The female has the 
neck band and head markings brown instead of black. This 
is an abundant seacoast plover, with the toes nearly half 



232 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



webbed. In feeding, the small flocks of five to ten scatter, 
but on the wing form a compact bunch. (Ring-neck.) 

Length, 7; wing, 4| (4|-5) ; tail, 2£ ; tarsus, 1; culmen, I. North 
America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering from the Gulf 
States to Brazil. 

5. Piping Plover (277. ^Egiatitis meldda). — A wary, coast- 
living, short-billed, ashy-backed, white-bellied plover, with 
a narrow, black collar on the sides, but not complete across 
the breast, and a narrow, black stripe from eye to eye above 
the forehead. In winter the black is replaced by brownish 

gray. Its notes are 
peculiarly sweet and 
musical, a peep- 
peep-peep-o. (Pale 
Ring-neck.) 

Length, 7; wing, 4| 
(4 M |); tail, 2}; tar- 
sus, |; culmen, £ near- 
ly. Eastern North 
America; breeding 
from the coast of Vir- 
ginia north to New- 
foundland, and winter- 
ing from Florida southward. The Belted Piping Plover (277 a . JE. m. 
circumcincla) is much like the last, but has the black collar complete 
across the breast. The young lack this complete collar. Mississippi 
Valley ; breeding from northern Illinois northward, and wintering from 
the Gulf southward. Occasionally eastward to the Atlantic coast. 

6. Snowy Plover (278. JEgiaTttis nivdsa). — An extreme 
western, grayish-brown-backed plover, with the forehead, line 
over eye, somewhat of a collar around the back neck, and all 
lower parts pure white. Above the white forehead there is a 
black patch on the crown, another on the ear coverts, and a 
third on the side of the breast. The young has the black mark- 
ings replaced by ashy-brown. 




Piping Plover 



Length, 



wing, 4\ ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, 



America from California eastward to Kansas and Texas 
Central America and western South America. 



Western North 
wintering in 



FAM. XXXVIII. PLOVERS 



233 




Wilson's Plover 



7. Wilson's Plover (280. JEgiaMis ivilsdnia). — A southern, 
common, brownish-gray-baeked, white-bellied plover, with a 
broad black band 

across the upper part 
of the breast and black- 
ish wing quills. The 
forehead and line 
over the eye are white, 
lores blackish, and a 
black band across the 
front of the crown. 
There is a more or less 
complete white band 
across the back neck. 
The female has the 
breast band brownish- 
gray. This is a gen- 
tle, fearless bird, of the sandy marine beaches and mud flats. 

Length, 7^; wing, 4| (4|-5); tail, 2; tarsus, 1\ ; culmen, |. Coasts 
of America from Long Island and Lower California to Brazil and Peru ; 
breeding from Virginia southward, and wintering from Mexico south- 
ward. 

8. Mountain Plover (281. JEgiafttis montana). — A tame, 
western, grayish-brown-backed, whitish-bellied plover, with 
blackish wing quills. The fore part of crown and a stripe 
from the eye to the bill are black ; forehead and stripe over the 
eye white ; the breast has an indistinct cross band of ochraceous, 
darkest on the sides. The feathers of the back are margined 
with rufous. The young has the head, neck, and upper breast 
like the back. This bird inhabits the dry est of the plains and 
grassy districts of the west in large flocks. It rises from the 
ground by several quick flaps of the wings, and, usually near 
the ground, circles through the air most gracefully. 

Length, 9; wing, 5| (5^-6); tail, 2f ; tarsus, If; culmen, |. Chiefly 
on the Plains ; breeding from central Kansas to the British boundary, and 
wintering mainly southwestward to central California, and south into 
Mexico. Accidental in Florida. 



234 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

FAMILY XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. (SCOLOPACID.E) 

A large family (100 species) of generally long-legged, short- 
tailed, shore birds, divided into many groups which grade into 
one another, but which have characteristics distinct enough 
to give them different common names. The peculiarities of 
the main groups will be given. (1) True Snipe and Woodcock. 
Long-billed, mottled-brown birds of swampy meadows and 
woodlands, where the mud is soft. Their legs are relatively 
shorter than those of the other groups of the family, and the 
eyes are placed farther back on the head than in any other 
birds. Nos. 1 and 2 show these characteristics fully, while 
3 and 4 are intermediate between this group and the next. 
(2) Sandpipers. This is a large group, and contains the small- 
est species of the family, as well as some of large size. They 
are short, straight-billed, long-legged, slender-bodied birds, of 
open, wet places, with a piping, resonant voice and unbarred, 
short tails. They have little, and, in some cases, no webbing 
to the toes. Their colors are grays, browns, and dull yellows. 
Their movements are quick and graceful in both running and 
flying. After a run, many of them have a way of teetering 
the body in a see-saw way, which is very characteristic. Nos. 
5-16, 24-26 are somewhat intermediate between this group 
and the tattlers, (o) Godwits. These are large, snipe-like 
birds, with long legs and very long and slightly upwardly 
curved bills. 1 They are found abundantly on marshes and 
salt meadows, around bays and lakes. Xos. 17 and 18. 
(4) Tattlers. This is about as large a group as that of the 
sandpipers, and the different species vary so in their charac- 
teristics that but little can be said of them as a whole. The 
bill is generally about straight, and longer than the head; it 
is harder and less sensitive than the bills of the other groups. 
Their noisy and restless character has given them their name ; 



^^^ f^y^ 




FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SAXDPIPEBS, ETC. 235 

many have the habit of continually bobbing the head, as 
though they were confiding some wonderful news. Xos. 19- 
24. (5) Curlews. These might be called godwits with long, 
slender, downwardly curved bills. 2 Their habitat is mainly 
in the marshes, though some are found on dry plains. Xos. 
27-29. 

Key to the Species 

* Bill very long and much decurved ; - tarsus scutellate only in front, 

reticulate behind. (P.) 

* Bill not strongly decurved; tarsus scutellate in front and behind. 5 (A.) 

A. Toes only three, the hind toe wanting 16. Sanderling. 

A. Toes four, the hind toe present. (B.) 
B. Eyes situated back of the middle of the head; 3 bill twice as long as 
the tarsus and with the upper mandible thickened at the tip ; toes 
without distinct webbing. (0.) 
B. Eyes not back of the middle of the head ; bill in no case twice as 
long as the tarsus. (C.) 
C. Front toes not webbed 4 (at most with one minute web). (J.) 
C. Front toes with at least one distinct web. 6 (D.) 
D. Tail more than half as long as the wing and with the under feathers 
at least one inch shorter than the middle ones ; wing over 6 ; bill, 

1-1 J 24. Bartramian Sandpiper. 

D. Tail about half as long as the wing ; wing. 3J-4 J ; bill, tarsus, and 
middle toe and nail each about 1 long ; bill narrow and somewhat de- 
curved near tip; 7 breast much spotted 26. Spotted Sandpiper. 

D. Tail less than half as long as the wing. (E.) 

E. Wing. 3-4 1 long ; bill grooved at tip 8 

14. Semipalmated Sandpiper and 15. Western Sandpiper. 

E. Wing, 6+-7^ long ; bill straight and 1-1J long, just about one fifth 

the length of the wing 23. Ruff. 

E. Bill over one fifth the length of the wing. (F.) 
F. Bill slightly broadened near tip ; 9 bill and tarsus about equal and 

1^-lf long ; wing. 5-5| 5. Stilt Sandpiper. 

F. Bill slightly broadened near tip ; bill over 2, and tarsus under 2 long ; 

wing. 5^-6 long 3. Dowitcher. 4. Long-billed Dowitcher. 

F. Bill not broadened near tip. (G.) 

G. Wing, 81—91/ ; bill. 3£-5J long, and bent upward toward tip ; 1 

rump and upper tail coverts regularly barred with brown 

17. Marbled Godwit. 





236 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

G. Wing, 7£-8£ ; bill, 2§-3£ long, and bent upward toward tip ; 1 

rump and tail black, upper tail coverts white between . 

18. Hudsonian Godwit. 

G. Bill not over 2| long and not conspicuously bent upward, usually 
straight. (H.) 
H. Wing with a large white patch at the base of the otherwise black 

primaries ; axillars 2 black 22. Willet. 

H. Wing without white patch ; axillars barred. (I.) 
I. Wing, 7-8 ; bill, 2-2£. 

— Upper tail coverts slightly, and tail heavily, barred 

19. Greater Yellow-legs. 

— Lower back and rump white ; tail slightly barred. Green-shank 
(253. Totanus nebularius) of the Old World has been found in 
Florida. 

I. Wing, 6-7 ; bill, l£-2 ; legs yellow in life 20. Yellow-legs. 

I. Wing, 4£-5£ ; bill, 1-1£ ; legs dusky in life. 21. Solitary Sandpiper. 
J. Inner web of the outer primary beautifully speckled with blackish. . 

25. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. 

J. Inner web not mottled. (K.) 
K. Wing over 6 ; middle pair of tail feathers not lengthened. .6. Knot. 
K. Wing under 6; middle pair of tail feathers acute and abruptly 
lengthened. 3 (L.) 
L. Bill, J inch longer than tarsus. (N.) 

L. Bill not over \ inch longer than tarsus, in most species no longer. (M. ) 
M. Wing, 5-5 1 ; bill, 1-1J; middle upper tail coverts black slightly 

margined with reddish 8. Pectoral Sandpiper. 

M. Wing, 4|-5i ; middle upper tail coverts white 

9. White-rumped Sandpiper. 

M. Wing, 4J— 4| ; middle upper tail coverts fuscous 

10. Baird's Sandpiper. 

M. Wing, 3-4 ; tarsus about f 11. Least Sandpiper. 

N. Middle upper tail coverts unbarred, black or blackish ; bill about 

straight 7. Purple Sandpiper. 

N. Middle upper tail coverts unbarred, dusky, or grayish ; bill straight 

to about the middle and then curved downward 4 

12. Red-backed Sandpiper. 

N. Middle upper tail coverts mainly white ; bill somewhat curved down- 
ward throughout its length 5 13. Curlew Sandpiper. 

0. Tibia naked at the joint ; crown striped lengthwise ; outer web of 

the primaries without bars 2. Wilson's Snipe. 

0. Tibia entirely feathered ; crown banded crosswise. . .1. Woodcock. 



<\XILUM^5^ , 




FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



237 




P. Wing, 10-12; bill, 5-8J (very young, 2 J-5) ; axillars 2 rich, dark 

buff, usually without any bars 27. Long-billed Curlew. 

P. Wing, 8J-10J ; bill, 2f-4J; axillars barred. .28. Hudsonian Curlew. 
P. Wing, 7|-8J ; bill, 2-2f ; axillars barred 29. Eskimo Curlew. 

1. American Woodcock (228. Philohela minor). — A common, 
muddy-wood-living, long-billed, short-legged, much-mottled, 
brown snipe, with eyes 
far back on the head, 
and the back of the 
crown with two dark 
cross stripes ; the three 
outer primaries are ab- 
ruptly shorter than the 
fourth and are pecul- 
iarly narrow and stiff. 
The soft muddy places 
where these game birds 
get their food by the 
use of their long, pli- 
able, sensitive bills are 
usually in or near woody tracts. These birds are particularly 
noted for their nocturnal, spiral flights in the air, which have 
been called " sky dances." They migrate by night to places 
where soft ground is to be found. 

Length, 11 ; wing, 5^ (4J-5f) ; tail, 2£ ; tarsus, 1^ ; culmen, 2^—3. 
Eastern North America, north to the British Provinces and west to. Kan- 
sas ; breeding throughout. The European Woodcock (227. Scolopax 

rusticola) is a larger 
bird, but similar in ap- 
pearance. It does not 
have the three narrow 
outer primaries. Wing, 
7-8 ; culmen, 3-3^. Ac- 
cidental in eastern North 
America. 

2. Wilson's Snipe 

(230. Gallincigo deli- 
Wilson's Snipe <£*«)■ — A common 



American Woodcock 




238 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



grassy -meadow-living, long-billed, very much mottled, brownish 
snipe, with a buff breast and white belly. The eyes are above 
the ears, and the mottling of the head is so arranged as to give 
a central, lengthened, light band between two darker ones. 
This is one of the most noted game birds, because only expert 
gunners can shoot it as it starts from the ground in its crooked 
but swift flight. It is found only where the ground is so water 
soaked as to give it a chance to probe with its soft, sensitive 
bill, and where clumps of vegetation will enable it to hide from 
view. (" English Snipe.") 

Length, 11; wing, 5 (4|-5.\); tail, 2\ ; tarsus, 1^; cuhnen, 2i-2f. 
North America; breeding from the northern United States northward, and 
wintering from Illinois and South Carolina to northern South America. 

3. Dowitcher (231. Macrorhdmplius cjnseus). — A common, 
large, shore-living, long-billed, long-legged, generally varie- 
gated, brownish-bodied snipe, with darker wings, lighter, 

much-barred tail, and nearly 
white belly. In winter, the 
upper parts and breast are 
plain gray with almost no 
traces of black or bay, 
while in summer the upper 
parts are much mottled with 
these colors. During migra- 
tions this bird is found in 
large flocks on the mud flats, 
exposed by the falling tide. 
(Red-breasted Snipe, sum- 
mer ; Gray Snipe, winter.) 

Length, 11 ; wing, 5| (5i-5|); 

tarsus, If ; culmen, 2-2 *,. Eastern 

North America ; breeding in the 

Arctic regions, and wintering from 

Dowitcher Florida to Brazil. 




4. Long-billed Dowitcher (232. 3£acrorlidmphusscolophceus). — 
In winter this bird and the last are practically alike except in 



FA3I. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 



239 



size, but in summer the long-billed has the breast and belly 
more uniformly rufous, and the sides more heavily barred with 
black. This is the dowitcher of the interior of the United 
States and is rare on the Atlantic coast, though it can be found 
there quite regularly in the late autumn. (Western Dowitcher ; 
Red-bellied. Snipe.) 

Length, 12 ; wing, 5^-6 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, 2^-3^. Western North 
America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, migrating south through the 
western United States (including the Mississippi Valley), and wintering 
in Mexico and possibly South America. 

5. Stilt Sandpiper (233. Micropdlama himdntopus). — A rare, 
very long-legged, long-billed, very much mottled sand-piper, 
with the center of 
each of the feathers 
blackish (in general) 
and the edges brown- 
ish-gray. The tail, 
throat, and line over 
the eye are much 
lighter. The colors 
are much grayer in 
winter, the under 
parts being white. It 
is slow r moving as com- 
pared w r ith other sand- 
pipers, and is more 
apt to squat than fly 

when disturbed. 

Stilt Sandpiper 

Length, 7^-91; wing, 

5i; tail, 2£; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, lf-lf. Eastern North America; 

breeding far north, and wintering from the West Indies to South 

America. 

6. Knot (234. Tringa canutus). — A very large and, as usually 
seen in the United States, mottled, gray-backed, white-bellied, 
plover-like sandpiper, with more or less of a red, robin-like 
breast. The back and wings are more beautifullv marked in 




240 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Knot 



the summer than in the winter with black, brown, and buff. 

The young has the breast finely spotted or streaked with black- 
ish, and the flanks 
barred or streaked 
with the same. The 
.- : *>, ., „ knot is found on 

muddy flats and 
sandy beaches, prob- 
ing the ground, like 
the true snipe, for 
its food, which con- 
sists of crustaceans 
and mollusks. The 
knots bunch very 
closely when decoyed, 

and so numbers can be killed by a single discharge. (Robin 

Snipe.) 

Length, 10-| ; wing, 6|; tail, 2f ; tarsus, 1^ ; culmen, If. Nearly all 
coasts ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering from Florida to South 
America. 

7. Purple Sandpiper (235. Tringa maritima). — A northern 
sandpiper, with grayish-purple to ashy head, breast, and back ; 
white throat, and whitish, somewhat streaked belly. The ashy 
breast is one of the most constant of its peculiarities. The 
bill is \ inch longer than the tarsus, and the tibia is feathered 
to the joint. It has a fondness for rocky shores, where it se- 
cures its food from among the seaweeds attached to the stones. 

Length, 9; wing, 5 (4|-5f); tail, 2\; tarsus, £; culmen, \\. North- 
ern hemisphere ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering southward 
to the Middle States and rarely to Florida. 

8. Pectoral Sandpiper (239. Tringa maeidata). — A short- 
necked, mottled, dark-brown-backed, white-bellied, streaky buff- 
breasted sandpiper, with black upper tail coverts slightly 
tipped with buff. The back has much black mixed with the 
brown and buff, the centers of the feathers being black. This 
is an inhabitant of grassy meadows rather than beaches, and 



FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS. ETC. 



241 




Pectoral Sandpiper 



the name krieker is derived from its notes. (Krieker; Grass 

Snipe.) 

Length, 9; wing. 51 (5-5f); tarsus, li ; culmen, 1^. America; breed- 
ing in the Arctic re- 
gions, and wintering in 
South America. 

9. White - rumped 
Sandpiper (240. 
THnga fuscicollis). 
— A short - billed, 
dark - brownish - col- 
ored, much mottled 
sandpiper, with 
white upper tail cov- 
erts, throat, and mid- 
dle of belly. The 
above is the summer 

plumage ; in winter, the upper parts are slightly streaked, 
brownish-gray. These birds are social, and frequent the sandy 
beaches and marshy shores of the coast, as well as the upland 
lakes of the interior. 

Length, 6f-8 ; wing, 4|; tarsus, f ; culmen, nearly 1. Eastern America ; 
breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering in the West Indies. Central 
and South America. 

10. Baird's Sandpiper (241. Tringa balrdii). — This bird is 
similar to the last, but has the upper tail coverts blackish in- 
stead of white. In 



winter it has a more 
buffy breast and 
lighter upper parts. 

Length, 71 ; wing, 4f 
(4i-4f ) ; tail, 2* ; tarsus, 
| ; culmen, £. America ; 
mainly in the interior of 
North and the western 
portion of South Amer- 
ica ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering in South America ; rare 
on the Atlantic coast. 

apgar's birds. — 16 





White-rnmped Sandpiper 



242 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

11. Least Sandpiper (242. Tringa minutilla.) — A common, 
very small, mottled, brownish-backed sandpiper, with the 
under parts from bill to tail white, streaked with black on 
the breast. The toes without webbing distinguish this species 
from No. 14, with which it often associates along our shores 
and beaches. This species can be seen also on grassy meadows. 
(Meadow Oxeye ; Peep.) 

Length, 6 ; wing, 3^ (3|-3£) ; tail, If ; tarsus, f ; culmen, f. America ; 
breeding north of the United States, and wintering from the Gulf States 
to South America. 

12. Red-backed Sandpiper (243 a . Tringa alplna pacified). — A 
brownish-red-backed, black-bellied sandpiper, with a spotted 
buff breast and a long bill which is decurved near the tip. In 
winter it lacks the black patch on the belly and has usually 
an ash-gray back, a pale gray, somewhat streaked breast, and 
a white belly. This fearless little snipe is found mainly on 
beaches and mud flats, though it occasionally visits grassy 
meadows. (Black Breast, spring ; Winter Snipe, autumn.) 

Length, 8 ; wing, 4| (4i-5) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, l\ ; culmen, If. North 
America and eastern Asia; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering 
in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. The Dunlin (243. Tringa alpina) 
of the Old World has been seen on Long Island. It is smaller and less 
brightly colored. Wing, 4|-4|. 

13. Curlew Sandpiper (244. Tringa ferruginea). — A very 
rare, European, rather long-billed, brick-red-colored sandpiper, 
with black primaries and spotted white tail coverts. In win- 
ter it is much grayer. The bill is decurved, curlew-like, from 
end to end. 

Length, 7-9; wing, 4| (4f-5£) ; tarsus, \\; culmen, li. Old World 
in general ; occasional in eastern North America and Alaska. 

14. Semipalmated Sandpiper (246. EreunUes pusillus). — A 
common, very small, short-billed, mottled, brownish-backed 
sandpiper, with the under parts from chin to tail white, 
streaked or spotted with black on the breast. The toes have 
plain webbing at the base. In winter, this bird is more ashy. 
This species, in habits, form, size, and color, appears like 



FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 243 



No. 11, with which it often associates, but the former is more 

common on sandy beaches, the latter on grassy plains. Large 

numbers congregate 

together in flocks, 

and when disturbed 

fly in a compact 

mass. (Sand Oxeye ; 

Peep.) 



(31-4); tail, 2; tarsus, 
|; culmen, f. Eastern 
North America ; breed- 
ing north of the United 
States, and wintering 
from the Gulf States to 
Brazil. 




Semipalmated Sandpiper 



15. Western Sandpiper (247. EreunUes occidentdlis). — This 
bird is much like No. 14 in every way. In summer it can 
be distinguished from it by the brownish-red edgings to the 
feathers of the back, and usually also by the heavier spots on 
the breast ; in fall and winter the best method is by compari- 
son of the length of the bill. No. 14 rarely has a bill -J long, 
while this species has one varying from |— 1\. Its range is 
mainly through the west, though occasionally it is to be found 

with the eastern spe- 
cies (No. 14) on the 
Atlantic coast. 

Length, 6i; wing, 3f 
(3§-3|) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 
|; culmen, 1. Western 
North America ; breed- 
ing far north, and win- 
tering in Central and 
South America. Occa- 
sional in the eastern 
United States. 

16. Sanderling(248. 

Cdlklris aren&ria). — 




Sanderling 



244 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

A common, three-toed, beach-living, mottled-brownish sand- 
piper, with short bill and unspotted white belly. In winter 
the reddish of the back is replaced by grayish. This bird 
often associates with No. 14 on the beaches, but it is larger, 
lighter in color, and usually less spotted on the breast, which 
in summer is brownish in tint. (Ruddy "Plover"; Surf 
Snipe.) 

Length, 8; wing, 4f (4|-5) ; tail, 2\\ tarsus, 1; culmen, 1. Nearly- 
all beaches of all countries ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering 
in America south to southern South America. 

17. Marbled Godwit (249. Limdsafedoa). — A very large, shy, 
long-billed, long-legged, generally brownish-red-colored, mottled 
snipe, with the upper parts much darker, usually blackish 
marbled with buffy. The inner web of the outer primaries 
and both webs of the others are buffy, speckled with black. 
The mottlings, barrings, and streaks are found everywhere 
except on the throat, which is whitish. The bill is curved up- 
ward to a slight extent. The young has the lower parts less 
barred. This is a western bird rarely found on the Atlantic 
coast. (Brown Marlin.) 

Length, 16-22; wing, 8| (8£-9£); tail, 3-4; tarsus, 3; culmen, 3I-5J-. 
North America ; breeding in the interior from Iowa and Nebraska north- 
ward, and wintering in Mexico, Central America, and Cuba. 

18. Hudsonian Godwit (251. Limdsa hcemdstica). — A bird 
similar to the last, but smaller, and with the upper tail coverts 
white, and the tail black, with a narrow tip of white. It is 
rare on the Atlantic coast, migrating chiefly through the in- 
terior. (Ring-tailed Marlin.) 

Length, 14-17; wing, 8]- (7|-8|); tail, 3* ; tarsus, 2i; culmen, 2f-3i. 
Eastern North America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering in 
South America. 

19. Greater Yellow-legs (254. Tdtanus melanoleiicus). — A 
rather common, large, long, yellow-legged, long-billed, mottled, 
brownish-gray-backed, white-rumped snipe, with the white un- 
der parts, spotted on the breast and sides. In winter the back 



FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 245 




is grayer, and the under parts are less spotted. (Greater Tell- 
tale; Long-legged Tattler.) 

Length, 12-15; wing, 8 (7|-8£); tail, 3}; tarsus, 2f ; culmen, 2-2£. 
America ; breeding from Iowa northward, and wintering from the Gulf 
States to Patagonia. 

20. Yellow-legs 
(255. Tdtanus fld- 
vipes). — A bird 
similar in habits and 
appearance to the 
last, but appreciably 
smaller, though the 
legs are proportion- 
ately longer. Both of 
these species occur 
Wherever there is Greater Yellow-legs 

water, and during migrations are abundant, though more com- 
mon on coasts than along rivers. This is usually more abundant 
than No. 19, and more easily decoyed by the hunter ; it is espe- 
cially plentiful in the late summer and autumn during its south- 
ward migration. The notes of both this species and the last 
are a clear, whistling, wheu-wheu-wheu. (Summer Yellow-legs ; 

Lesser Telltale.) 

Length, 10-12 ; wing, 
6| (6-7) ; tail, 2| ; tar- 
sus, 2 ; culmen, 1|-1|. 
America ; breeding north 
of the United States, and 
wintering from the Gulf 
States to Patagonia. In 
the United States more 
common east than west. 

21. Solitary Sand- 
piper (256. Tdtanus 
Solitary Sandpiper solitarius). — A com- 

mon, small, dark, olive-brown-backed, white-bellied sandpiper, 
with the neck and b,ack spotted with white. The throat 




246 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



and belly are pure white, and the sides of head, neck, and 
breast white or slightly buffy, streaked with black. In winter 
the back is less distinctly speckled. This is an inhabitant of 
the woody borders of ponds, lakes, and streams of inland 
places, and is rarely found near salt water. As its name 
indicates, it is generally solitary in its habits, though some- 
times a few (3-6) are to be found together. (Solitary Tattler.) 

Length, 8| ; wing, b\ (4|-5|) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, l\ ; culmen, 1£. North 
America ; breeding along the northern border of the United States and 
northward, and wintering in the Southern States and southward to cen- 
tral South America. 

22. Willet (258. Symphbnia semipalmcita). — A large, shy, 
brownish-gray-backed, white-bellied snipe, with a distinct, 

large white patch on the 
wings, and white upper 
tail coverts. In sum- 
mer the head, neck, and 
sides are much streaked 
with white, and the 
ashy tail is barred with 
blackish. It is found 
on both fresh and salt 
water marshes and 
shores. The name comes 
from the shrill-whistled 
call notes, pilly - icill- 
willet. 

Length, 16 ; wing, 8 (7i- 
9); tail, 3 ; tarsus, 2-3 ; cul- 
men, 2-2|. Eastern North 
"Willet America ; breeding from 

Florida to New Jersey and 
locally to Maine, and wintering in the West Indies to South America. 
The Western Willet (258 a . S. s. inornata) of western North America can 
hardly be distinguished from the eastern form. It averages larger and 
with a longer bill, and is in general a grayer bird. It breeds from Texas 
to Manitoba ; mainly found in the Mississippi Valley and westward, but 
occasionally along the coasts of the South Atlantic and Gulf States. 




FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 247 

23. Ruff (260. Pavoncella pugnax).— This Old World spe- 
cies has occasionally been found in eastern United States. The 
female is a large, grayish, brown-backed, shore bird, with an 
ashy breast and white belly. The back in summer is dis- 
tinctly barred or streaked with black. The male in summer 
has a very peculiar and large ruff around the neck and on the 
breast, which may be of many colors — chestnut, black, black 
and white, white and brown, etc. 

Length, 9^-13; wing, 5|-8 ; tail, 2^-3; tarsus, li-2 ; culmen, 1-H. 
The smaller numbers refer to the female. It has been found in different 
states from Maine to New Jersey and west to Ohio. 

24. Bartramian Sandpiper (261. Bartrhmia longicauda). — A 
large, shy, comparatively long-tailed, plain-and-upland-living, 
beautifully mottled, 
buff and dark brown, 
plover-like sandpiper. 
The throat, neck, and under 
parts are creamy-buff, the 
sides of head and neck bright- 
er and streaked with dark 
brown, and the breast with 
some arrow-headed spots of 
the same. The tail extends 
beyond the wings when closed, 
and the outer primaries are 
barred with black and white. 
Its notes have been described 
as most weird and mournful. 
It is seldom found near the Bartramian Sandpiper 

water and, if near it, probably never wades. In habits, it is 
much more of a plover than a sandpiper, and has received 
many names to indicate this fact. (Upland "Plover"; Field 
"Plover"; Grass "Plover.") 

Length, 11-13 ; wing, 6| (6^-7) ; tail, Z\ ; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, 1±. 
North America, mainly east of the Rocky Mountains, north to Nova 
Scotia and Alaska; breeding throughout, and wintering south of the 
United States to Brazil. 




248 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Buff-breasted Sandpiper 



25. Buff-breasted Sandpiper (262. Tryngltes subruficdllis). — 
A small, short-billed, buff-colored, field-and-grassy-plain-living, 

plover - like sand- 
piper, with the back 
and wings a mottled 
brownish-buff, dark- 
est on the wings. 
A peculiar black 
speckling on the in- 
ner webs of all the 
primaries is the dis- 
tinguishing mark of 
this, small species. 
It is rare east, com- 
mon west. 

Length, 7-9 ; wing, 5£ (5-5 J) ; tail, 21 ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, f. North 
America, especially in the interior ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and 
wintering in South America. 

26. Spotted Sandpiper (263. Actltis macidclria). — A common, 
small, brownish-gray-backed sandpiper, with the white under 
parts everywhere spotted with black. This is an inhabitant of 
the margins of all rivers, ponds, and lakes, as well as of the 
ocean. In summer, 
it is about our only 
fresh-water sand- 
piper. It is a rapid 
runner and a good 
"teeterer." Its sharp 
notes peet-weet are 
given when flushed. 
It usually returns to 
its starting point, at s P otted Sandpiper 

least after several flushings. (Tilt-up ; Teeter Snipe ; Peet-weet.) 

Length, 7-8 ; wing, 4\ (4-41) ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, 1. America, from 
Alaska to southern Brazil ; breeding throughout temperate North America, 
and wintering in the West Indies to South America. 




FAM. XXXIX. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. 249 



27. Long-billed Curlew (264. Numhiiuslongirdstris). — Avery 
large, long-legged, much-mottled, dark-brown-backed, shore bird, 
with buffy under parts, and a sickle-like, downwardly curved, 
exceedingly long bill. The head and neck are peculiarly streaky. 
These birds, though mainly found along muddy shores and on 
grassy meadows, are known to live and breed in upland regions 
at a distance from water. (Sickle-bill.) 

Length, 20-26 ; wing, 10£ (10-111) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 3 ; culmen, 2} 
(young), 5|-8| (adult). United States; breeding north to the South 
Atlantic States (casually to New England), and in the interior to Mani- 
toba, and wintering from the Gulf States to the West Indies. 

28. Hudsonian Curlew (265. Numhiiushudsdnicus). — A large, 
common, much-mottled, generally brownish, shore bird, with 
whitish belly, 

and a long, sickle- 
like, downwardly 
curved, slender bill. 
This is a smaller, 
but more common 
bird than the last, 
and has similar 
habits and fre- 
quents like places. 
(Jack Curlew.) 

Length, 16-18; 
wing, 9i (9-101) j tail, 




Hudsonian Cnrlew 



and wintering 



America; breeding in the Arctic regions, 
mainly south of the United States. 



29. Eskimo Curlew (266. Numbxius boredlis). — A large, 
slender-billed, long-legged, much-mottled, brownish curlew, 
with a decidedly curved bill like the last two species. The 
under parts are buffy, with a darker and very streaky breast. 
This, the smallest of the curlews, is more abundant in the 
interior, and frequents dry uplands and fields in preference to 
muddy shores. It often appears in great flocks on the western 
prairies. (Small Curlew ; Dough-bird ; Fute.) 



250 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 12-15 ; wing, 8i-8f ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, 2£-2f . 
Eastern North America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering in 
South America. 



FAMILY XL. AVOCETS AND STILTS (RECURVIROSTRID^) 

This is a small family (11 species) of extremely long-legged, 
long-necked, slender-billed, wading birds. Their bills are long 
as well as slender, and have more or less of an upward bend. 
The Avocets swim with great ease, and are tame birds, gener- 
ally found in flocks. Their food consists of water-insects, and 
crustaceans, which they obtain mainly in shallow water, swing- 
ing the bill from side to side like a man mowing. The Stilts 
are much like avocets, but have even longer legs, and are not 
so well fitted for swimming; so, though their food consists of 
the same kind of insects and crustaceans, they obtain nearly 
all of it by wading. 

Key to the Species 

* Bill over 3 long, and decidedly curved upward ; the three front toes 

webbed 1. American Avocet. 

* Bill less than 3 long and but slightly curved upward ; only two of the 

toes connected by webbing : 2. Black-necked Stilt. 

1. American Avo- 
cet (225. Becurvird- 
stra americ&na). — 
A very long-legged, 
slender - billed, al- 
most white-bodied, 
wading bird, with 
dark wings, having 
large, white bands 
formed of the coverts 
and secondaries. The 
long bill is decidedly 
curved upward. In 
summer the head and 
American Avocet neck are cinnamon- 




FAM. XL. AVOCETS AND STILTS 



251 



red. Common in the interior along the shores of shallow 
ponds, rare eastward. (Blue Stocking.) 

Length, 16-20 ; wing, 8£ (7£-9£) ; tail, 3J ; tarsus, 3| ; culmen, 3£. 
North America ; breeding from Illinois (rarely from Texas) north to the 
Great Slave Lake and wintering along the Gulf coast to Central America. 

2. Black-necked Stilt (226. Himdntopus mexicclnus). — An ex- 
ceedingly long-legged, long-billed, black and white wading bird 
oh" the shallow ponds. The black begins back of the forehead 
and extends along the neck and back to the tail ; the wings 
are also black. 
The white in- 
cludes the fore- 
head, all lower 
parts, and most 
of the tail. The 
black is glossy 
and somewhat 
greenish. This 
graceful bird is 
especially fond 
of wading in 
shallow, salt- 
marsh ponds. 
During the breed- 
ing season it is 
very noisy, with 
a sharp click-like note, which is often given out while on the 
wing. Its long wings enable this bird to fly well, and it has 
the habit common in the whole order (Limicolce) of exhibiting 
alternately the upper and lower side of the body. With this 
bird, which is so black above and white below, this change of 
position adds much to the beauty of its movement. (Lawyer; 
Long-shanks.) 

Length, 13i-15i ; wing, 9 (8.]-9J) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 4£ ; culmen, 2£. 
United States ; breeding from Texas, irregularly, in the interior to the 
northern border ; rare on the Atlantic coast north of Florida. South in 
winter to Brazil. 




Black-necked Stilt 



252 



KEY AND DESCBIPT10N 



FAMILY XLI. PHALAROPES (PHALAROP6DIM:) 

This is a small family (3 species) of small, brightly colored, 
long, slender-billed, long-legged, swimming and wading birds, 
which, on shore, appear like sandpipers. They have lobed 
toes 1 like the grebes and coots. In this group the 
sexual characteristics are almost completely reversed. 
The female is the larger and the brighter colored and 
does the courting of her mate. When the eggs are 
laid her duties are about over; the male performs most, if 
not all, of the duties of incubation. Soon after the young are 
hatched they are able to swim and find their own food. 



Key to the Species 

* Bill over 1£ long 3. Wilson's Phalarope. 

* Bill under 1$ long. (A.) 

A. Bill stout and with a flattened tip ; 2 wing over 4| long 
1. Red Phalarope. 

A. Bill very slender and not flattened ; wing under 4 J long * 
2. Northern Phalarope. 

1. Red Phalarope (222. Crymdphilus fulic&rius). — In sum- 
mer a red-bodied, gray-winged, black-backed, small, ocean- 
swimming bird with 
much black and 
white on the head. 
In winter a grayish- 
backed, white-bellied 
bird with washings 
of red on head, 
wings, rump, and 
tail. This is mainly 
an inhabitant of the 

Red Phalarope ocean at some dis " 

tance from land, and 

rarely comes to shore except after storms. In the autumn it is 

occasionally seen on the western lakes and rivers. It keeps in 

flocks, swimming like a duck or walking on floating seaweed 




FAM. XLL PHALAEOPES 



253 



as though it were land. The toes have broad, rounded lobes. 
(Gray Phalarope.) 

Length, 7|-8f ; wing, b\ (5-5^) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, |; culmen, f. North- 
ern parts of the northern hemisphere ; breeding far north, and wintering 
irregularly south to the Middle States, Ohio Valley, and Cape St. Lucas. 

2. Northern Phalarope (223. Phaldropus lobdtus). — In sum- 
mer a common, small, ocean-swimming, slender-billed, brightly 
marked and colored 

bird, with much of 
red, black, white, 
and gray in its plum- 
age. In winter the 
upper parts are gray- 
ish and white. This 
bird is often seen in 
great numbers on 
the ocean, scores of 
miles from shore, 
but is rarely seen 
on land except in Northern p ha i ar0 p e 

its breeding region 

of the far north. Like the last species, its toes are furnished 
with broad, rounded lobes. (Red-necked Phalarope.) 

Length, 7-8 ; wing, 4£ (4-4 £) ; tail, 2; tarsus, |; culmen, f. Northern 
hemisphere ; breeding in the far north, and wintering south to the tropics. 

3. Wilson's Phalarope (224. Phaldropus tricolor). — This in- 
land phalarope has 
its back ashy colored, 
with two stripes ex- 
tending from the bill 
past the eyes along 
the sides of the back 
to the rump, black in 
front, changing to 
chestnut near the tail. 

Wilson's Phalarope Its lower parts are 





254 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

white, with a chestnut tint on the sides of the neck. The 
male is much duller. The small size, lobate toes, slender bill, 
and swimming habits will readily distinguish this bird from 
any other in the inland regions. 

Length, 8-10 ; wing, 5 (4|-5J) ; tail, 1\ ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, \\. 
Temperate America, mainly inland ; breeding from Illinois and Utah, 
north into the British Provinces, and wintering south to Patagonia. 



ORDER X. RAILS, CRANES, ETC. (PALUDICOL^J) 

An order of wading birds, differing widely in external pecul- 
iarities, but associated together because of structural charac- 
teristics. 

FAMILY XLII. RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS (RALLIDJE) 

This large family (180 species) of mainly marsh-living birds 
is readily divided into three groups, both by habits and ex- 
ternal peculiarities. (1) The Rails form the largest and most 
characteristic of these subfamilies. They have short bills, 
narrow, compressed bodies, long toes, and short, upwardly 
turned tails. They inhabit marshes closely covered with reeds 
and rushes, and their peculiarly narrow bodies fit them to pass 
without trouble anywhere they wish between the plants, and 
their long toes enable them to walk with ease and safety over 
the softest mud, or even over floating weeds. (2) The Gallinules 
are brightly marked, chicken-like birds of marshes and reed- 
grown borders of ponds and lakes. They swim well and appear 
in their swimming like coots, which they also resemble in 
having a horny shield or plate on the forehead ; 1 but they are 
like the rails in having long toes without lobes along their 
edges. (3) The Coots are swimming birds the size of small 
ducks, with the legs much longer, and the toes lobed 2 instead 



FAM. XLII. BAILS, GALL1NULES, ETC. 255 

of webbed. There is a horny plate on the forehead. 1 They 
inhabit creeks and rivers which are surrounded with just such 
marshes and reed-grown shores as are the dwelling places of 
rails. The coots are nearly exclusively swimming birds, almost 
as much so as ducks. The rails swim but little, and the 
gallinules are intermediate. 

Key to the Species 

* Forehead with a shield-like, horny extension of the bill ; J under tail 

coverts white ; wing over Q\ long. (E.) 

* No horny extension of the bill on the forehead. (A. ) 
A. Bill slender, decurved, 3 2 or more long. (D.) 

A. Bill slender, decurved, 3 1^-lf long . . .4. Virginia Rail. 

A. Bill stout, not decurved, 1 or less long. (B.) 

B. Wing over 5 long ; Old World species, rare in America 

8. Corn Crake. 

B. Wing under 5 long. (C.) 

C. Feathers of the back black with broad, buffy borders 

6. Yellow Rail. 

C. Back olive-brown ; wing over 4 long 5. Sora. 

C. Back blackish with round, white spots ; wing, 2£-3| 

7. Black Rail. 

D. Upper parts rich olive-brown, streaked with black ; flanks black 
barred with white ; wings generally over 6 long and with rufous 

coverts 1. King Rail. 

D. Upper parts grayish streaked with black ; flanks not black, though 

barred with whitish 2 and 3 Clapper Rails. 

E. Most of the head and all under parts purplish-blue (mottled with 
white in the young) ; back olive-green (washed with brownish in 

the young) .9. Purple Gallinule. 

E. Generally slate-colored above, with conspicuous white streaks on 

the flanks ; toes without lobes along their edges 

10. Florida Gallinule. 

E. Slate-colored, with white tips to the secondary quills ; toes with 
broad, membranous lobes 2 11. Coot. 

1. King Rail (208. Rdllus elegans). — A large, brightly col- 
ored, long-billed, cinnamon-red-breasted, olive-brown- to black- 
backed, distinctly blotched, fresh- water, marsh rail with sides 
more or less barred with black and white. The wing coverts 
are brownish-red. The downy young are glossy black. This, 
like most of the rails, rarely flies when it is possible for it to 



256 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

run and hide in its sedgy home, and so, though it is brightly 
marked, it is rarely seen. 

Length, 16-19 ; wing, 6£ (6-7) ; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, 2|. Eastern 
United States, in fresh- water marshes ; breeding north to Missouri and 
Connecticut and wintering from Virginia southward. Occasionally north 
to Wisconsin, Ontario, and Maine. 

2. Clapper Rail (211. Rdllus crepitans). — A large, pale-col- 
ored, olive-gray, salt-marsh rail with yellowish-brown breast, 
whitish throat, and more or less white-barred belly and sides. 
Downy young are glossy black. This salt-marsh inhabitant 
takes the place of the last species of the fresh marshes. In 
the south it is also found in the mangrove swamps. (Mud 
Hen.) 

Length, 14-16; wing, 6| (5J-6J-) ; tail, 2\\ tarsus, 2 ; culmen, 2-2 1. 
Salt-water marshes of the Eastern and Southern States ; breeding from 
Connecticut southward and wintering in small numbers over about the 
same range. Casual north to Massachusetts. The Louisiana Clapper 
Rail (211 a . R. c, saturates) of Louisiana is a darker-colored bird having 
the back broadly striped with brownish-black and the breast more cinna- 
mon-colored. 

3. Florida Clapper Rail (211-1. Bdllus scdttii). — This species 
differs from No. 2 in having the feathers of the back almost 
black with olive-gray margins, the neck and breast dark cinna- 
mon-red, and the belly and flanks black. These colors give it 
much the appearance of the king rail, but it lacks the rufous 
wing coverts of that bird. 

Length, 14 ; wing, 5£ ; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, 2|. Western coast of 
Florida. 

4. Virginia Rail (212. Rdllus virginianus). — A small, common, 
brightly colored, short-tailed, long-billed, cinnamon-breasted, 
brown-backed, distinctly marked rail of both fresh and salt 
marshes. The sides are somewhat barred with black and 
white, the wing coverts brownish-red, belly like the breast, 
and the throat white. The back proper has very dark centers 
to the feathers. The common morning and evening note of 
this bird is a grunting sound much like that of a hungry pig. 



FAM. XLIL BAILS, GALLINULES, ETC. 



257 



Like all the rails, it 
is a difficult bird to 
observe because of 
its ability as a 
skulker. 

Length, 8-10J ; wing, 
4i (4-4f ) ; tail, 1J ; tar- 
sus, If ; culmen, 1J. 
North America ; breed- 
ing from Illinois and 
Pennsylvania, north to 
Manitoba and Labra- 
dor, and wintering from 
about the same states 
southward to Central 
America. 

5. Sora (214. Por- 
zana ca roft no). — A 
common, short- 
tailed, short-billed, 
long-legged, olive- 
brown, marsh bird 




Virginia Kail 



or rail, with many white lines and dashes on the back and 
wings. The under parts are slaty-gray, changing to white near 

the tail, the flanks 
being barred with 
black and white. 
The feathers of the 
back have darker 
centers and lighter 
edges. The adult 
has black about the 
base of the bill, 
on the crown, and 
down the middle 
of the neck; the 
young lacks these 
Sora black marks and 

apgar's birds. — 17 




258 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

has the breast washed with cinnamon. Fresh-water marshes 
inhabited by these birds in summer are vocal during the late 
afternoon and early night with whistled Jeer-ivees and loud 
rolling ivhinnies. Were it not for these cries, many places in- 
habited by these birds might remain unexplored. (Carolina 
Kail ; Common Crake.) 

Length, 8£ ; wing, 4£ (4-4£) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 1£ ; culmen, f . North 
America ; breeding from Illinois and New York north to Hudson Bay, and 
wintering from South Carolina to northern South America. 

6. Yellow Rail (215. Porzcina noveboracensis). — A rare, very 
shy, small, short-billed, much mottled, brownish-yellow rail 
with the under parts much lighter and less blotched than 
the back. The feathers of the back have almost black centers, 
ochraceous buff borders, and more or less of white bars. The 
sides are barred with dark and white, and the middle of the 
belly is almost pure white. Its notes have been compared to 
those of the frogs. (Yellow Crake.) 

Length, 7; wing, 3| (3—3$); tail, 1£ ; tarsus, 1; culmen, £. North 
America; breeding from the Middle States, north to Nova Scotia and 
Hudson Bay, and wintering south to Cuba. Not so rare east as west of 
the Rocky Mountains. 

7. Black Rail (216. Porztina jamaicensis). — A rare, very 
small, short-billed, very dark-colored, somewhat speckled rail. 
Its general color is brownish-black, and the markings are 
mainly white. There is some reddish-brown on the back neck 
and slate-color on the head and breast. (Little Black Crake.) 

Length, 5J ; wing, 2| (2£-3£) ; tail, 1| ; tarsus, £■ ; culmen, £. United 
States ; breeding north to Massachusetts, Illinois, and Oregon, and winter- 
ing south to western South America. 

8. Corn Crake (217. Crex crex). — A large, Old World short- 
billed, brownish-buff rail with much of brownish-red on the 
wings. The feathers of the back have almost black centers, 
the sides are barred with white, and the middle of the belly 
is wholly white. This bird is of only casual occurrence in 
eastern North America. 

Length, 10£ ; wing, 5| ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 1£ ; culmen, f . Very rare. 



FAM. XL1I. BAILS, GALLINULES, ETC. 



259 



9. Purple Gallinule (218. Ionbrnis ma rtinica). — A short-tailed, 
long-legged, brilliantly pnrplish-blue, chicken-like, marsh bird 
with very long toes, enabling it to walk on the floating leaves. 
The back itself is a shining olive-green, the under tail coverts 
white, bill with much red, and the legs yellow. The young 
has much brownish on the back, white mottlings below and 
bill without red. 

Length, 13 ; wing, 1\ (6f-7£) ; tail, 2f ; tarsus, 2f ; culmen, If. South 
Atlantic and Gulf States ; breeding as far north as southern Illinois and 
South Carolina, straying rarely to Maine and Wisconsin, and wintering 
from Florida to Brazil. 

10. Florida Gallinule (219. Gallinula galeata). — A common, 
southern, dark slate-colored, chicken-like, marsh bird with long 
toes like the last spe- 
cies. The front half 
of the bird is nearly 
black and the rest 
brownish, except the 
white under tail cov- 
erts, edge of wing, 
and streaks on the 
flanks. The bill is 
red and the legs are 
yellow in life. (Com- 
mon Gallinule; Eed- 
billed Mud-hen.) Florida aalliimle 

Length, 13£ ; wing, 7 (6^-1 I) ; tail, 2f ; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, If. Tem- 
perate and tropical America ; breeding north to Canada and wintering 
from the Gulf States to Brazil. 




11. American Coot (221. Fulica america.no). — A common, 
large, noisy, short-tailed, short-billed, long-legged, dark slate- 
colored, swimming bird, with white under tail coverts, white 
bill, and blackish head and neck. The long toes have broad, 
scalloped lobes along their edges. When swimming, this 
bird bobs its head in a peculiar manner; when disturbed, it 
partly flies and partly swims just over the surface of the 



260 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



water, giving out a characteristic pattering noise. 
Crow "Duck"; Blue Peter.) 



(Mud Hen ; 




American Coot 

Length, 15 ; wing, 1\ (7-7|) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, If. North 
America, north to New Brunswick and Alaska ; breeding locally through- 
out, and wintering from the Middle States to Central America. 



FAMILY XLIII. 



habits like those of the herons. 



COURLANS (ARAMID^E) 

A small family (2 species) of large, rail-like birds, with 

We have only the fol- 
lowing: 

1. Limpkin(207. 
Aram us g igdn tens) . 
— A very large, 
southern (Florida 
and Texas), long- 
billed, chocolate- 
brown, rail - like 
bird, with most 
Limpkm o f the P^mage 




-*^- ; EEPi 



FAM. XLIV. CRANES 261 

sharply streaked with white. It is usually to be found along 
the borders of wooded streams and in the swamps, though occa- 
sionally it visits the uplands, and, like the heron, perches in 
trees. It receives the name " Crying-bird," from the character 
of its wailing call notes. (Courlan ; Crying-bird.) 

Length, 26; wing, 12 (11-131) ; tail, 6J ; tarsus, 3^-5 ; culmen, 3|-5. 
Florida and southern Texas, south to West Indies and Central America. 



FAMILY XLIV. CRANES (GKTJID^) 

A family (18 species) of very large, very long-necked, long- 
legged, heron-like birds, which is placed in this order (Paludi- 
colae) with the rails, because of certain structural similarities, 
not because of size or general appearance. As in the herons, 
the head is more or less naked, but the plumage is compact, 
while that of the herons is peculiarly loose. They are inhabit- 
ants of marshes and meadows, and live upon both animal 
and vegetable food, such as frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, Indian 
corn, etc. Their voice is peculiarly harsh and resonant, and 
when a number are together the sounds have been likened to 
those of a pack of hounds in full cry ; they can be heard for 
the distance of a mile, or even two. In flight the neck is 
extended as in the case of the ibises or storks. 

Key to the Species 

* Tarsus, 10f-13 long ; general plumage white in the adult 

1. Whooping Crane. 

* Tarsus, 9-10f long ; bill, 41-6 long . .3. Sandhill Crane. 

* Tarsus, 6-9 long ; bill, 2|-4f long 2. Little Brown Crane. 

1. Whooping Crane (204. Grus ameiicclna). — A very large, 
white crane, with dull-red head and black wing quills. The 
red portion, which consists of the top and side of the head and 
a little along the side of the throat, is free from feathers but 
is covered by a growth of black hairs. The young is similar, 
but the head is fully feathered, and the plumage is more or 



262 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




less covered by rusty patches, espe- 
cially on the back. (White Crane.) 

Length, 50 ; wing, 24 (22-26) ; tail, 9 ; 

tarsus, 11^; culmen, 5| (5-6). Interior of 

North America; breeding from Illinois north 

to the Arctic regions, and wintering in the 

i Gulf States. 

2. Little Brown Crane (205. Grus 
canadensis). — Almost exactly like 
the next, but smaller, the general 
color being slaty or brownish gray. 

Length, 35 ; wing, 18| (17-20) ; tail, 7 ; 
tarsus, 7|-; culmen, 3| (3-4i). Western 
North America ; breeding in the northern 
portions and migrating southward, mainly 
west of the Mississippi into the western 
United States and Mexico. 



Whooping Crane 



3. Sandhill Crane (206. Grus mexi- 
A very large, slaty to brownish-gray crane, with the 
whole top of the head bare of 
feathers, but covered with black 
hairs on a dull reddish skin. The 
plumage is more or less washed 
with rusty. The young has the 
head entirely feathered, and the 
plumage brown, extensively washed 
with rusty. During the early spring 
these birds jump about in the most 
ludicrous manner, as though danc- 
ing an Indian war dance, and they 
stop only when exhausted. (Brown 
Crane.) 

Length, 44; wing, 21| (21-22 1 -); tail, 
9 ; tarsus, 10 J; culmen, h\ (5-6). South- 
ern half of North America, rare on the 
Atlantic coast except in Georgia and 
Florida ; breeding locally throughout, 
even north to Manitoba. Sandhill Crane 




FAM. XLY. HERONS, EGRETS, ETC. 263 

ORDER XI. HERONS, STORKS, IBISES, ETC. 
(HERODIONES) 

An order of large, long-necked, long-legged, long-billed, short- 
tailed birds, with portions of the heads and sometimes of the 
necks bare of feathers, but covered more or less with hairs. 

FAMILY XLY. HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS, ETC. (ARDEID.E) 

A large family (75 species) of large, long-billed, long-necked, 
long-legged birds, with the head fully feathered, except a space 
between the eyes and bill (lores). This is the one family of 
the order (Herodiones) well represented in all portions of our 
region. These birds are abundant along the shores of rivers, 
lakes, salt-water marshes, and bays. In flying, the head is 
brought back close to the breast by the folding of the neck. 
Nearly all other birds belonging to this order fly with the neck 
stretched forward to its full length, and the legs extended back- 
ward. The name " squawk " is applied popularly to a number 
of the species of herons, because of the peculiar cry which 
is characteristic of the family. Bitterns differ from the 
true herons in being more solitary in their habits, occupying 
more exclusively grassy meadows and marshes, and in their 
vocal performances, which have been appropriately called 
"booming" and "stake driving." 

Key to the Species 

* Outer toe shorter than the inner one ; hind nail fully half as long as the 

toe. 

— Wing, 10-13 long 1. American Bittern. 

— Wing, 4-6 long 2, and 3. Least Bitterns. 

* Outer toe as long or longer than the inner one ; hind nail less than half 

as long as the toe. (A.) 
A. Bill slender, fully four times as long as it is 

hisjh at base. 1 (C.) 

A. Bill stouter, about three times as long as it 

is high at base. 2 (B.) 

B. Bill less than a half inch shorter than the tarsus ; top and bottom of 

the bill but slightly convex 13. Black-crowned Night Heron. 




264 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



B. Bill over a half inch shorter than the tarsus ; top and bottom of bill 

decidedly convex. 1 14. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 

C. Wing, 17-22 long ; plumage pure white 

4. Great White Heron. 

C. Wing, 17-21 long ; upper part grayish or slaty -blue 

5. Ward's Heron or 6. Great Blue Heron. i 

C. Wing, 14-17 long ; plumage pure white 7. American Egret. 

C. Wing, 11-14 long ; plumage mostly white or slate colored 

9. Reddish Egret. 

C. Wing under 11 long. (D.) 

D. Wing, 6-8 long ; back with much green or greenish 

12. Green Heron. 

D. Wing, 8-11 long. (E.) 

E. Plumage pure white 8. Snowy Heron (and young of No. 11). 

E. Whig coverts more or less margined with rusty 

, 10. Louisiana Heron. 

E. Wing coverts without rusty margins 11. Little Blue Heron. 

1. American Bittern (190. Botaurus lentiginbsus). — A very 
common, large, solitary, retiring, grassy-marsh-living, stout- 
billed, buffy and brown, mottled, heron-like bird, with many 

elongated, loose feathers on the 
crown and lower neck. There 
is a velvety black streak on the 
side of the neck. This bird 
makes a note which sounds like 
driving a stake with a mallet, 
or at other times like the work- 
ing of an old wooden pump. 
This "booming" can be heard 
a long distance, and during its 
progress the bird exhibits most 
amazing contortions of its body. 
It is noted for its ability to stand 
in one position for an indefinite 

period, though the other mem- 
American Bittern r ' ° 

bers of the family are also good 

at " tableaux vivants." (Stake-driver ; Marsh Hen ; Bog-bull.) 

Length, 24-34 ; wing, 10$ (91-121) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 3f ; culmen, 3. 

Temperate North America ; breeding mainly north of the Carolinas, and 

wintering from Virginia southward to Central America. 




FAM. XLV. HERONS, EGRETS, ETC. 



265 



2. Least Bittern (191. Ardetta exilis). — A bird formed simi- 
larly to the last and with similar habits, but much smaller. It is 
a buffy and chestnut- 
colored bittern with 
the crested crown, 
back, and tail glossy 
black and a patch on 
the side of the breast 
blackish. The female 
is similar but the 
crown and back are 
a purplish - chestnut 
rather than black, and 
the under parts are 
darker and streaked 
with brownish. 




Least Bittern 



Length, 13; wing, 4| (4f-5i); tail, 2; tarsus, If; culmen, 1-g-. Tem- 
perate North America ; breeding north to Ontario and wintering from 
Florida south to the West Indies and Brazil. 

3. Cory's Least Bittern (191-1. Ardetta nedxena). — A bird 
like the last in everything but color and size. It is a bittern 
with reddish-chestnut on the breast and under parts as well as 
on the sides of the head and throat and the wing coverts. The 
crown, back, and tail are black, with a distinct green gloss. 
This species has the under tail coverts a dull black, the last 
has them washed with buffy. Only a few specimens have 
been observed, and those, curiously, in widely separated local- 
ities. 



Length, 11; wing, 4i ; tarsus, If; culmen, If. 
Michigan. 



Florida, Ontario, and 



4. Great White Heron (192. Ardea occidentalis). — An exceed- 
ingly large, southern (Florida), entirely white heron with (in 
the breeding season) long, narrow, stiffened feathers on the 
lower neck and back and two narrow plumes on the head. 
This is a" larger bird than the American egret (No. 7) and 



266 



KEY AND DESCBIPTION 



much larger than the snowy heron (No. 8), but has not the 

" aigrette " plumes of those species. 

Length, 50 ; wing, 19 (17-21); tarsus, 8f ; culmen, 6£. Florida, Cuba, 
and Jamaica. 

5. Ward's Heron (193. Ardea wdrdi). — A Florida great 

blue heron. It is similar to the next but somewhat larger. 

Generally the lower parts are whiter, the neck darker, and the 

legs lighter, being olive instead of black. 

Length, 48-54; wing, 19|-20i ; tarsus, 81 ; culmen, 6^-7 . Florida; 
common in the southern half of. the state. 

6. Great Blue Heron (194. Ardea herodias). — An exceedingly 
large, common, generally bluish or slate-colored, crested heron, 

with many black, white, and 
yellowish streaks on head, 
neck, and belly, and chestnut 
on the bend of the wing. 
The tibia feathers are brown, 
the center of crown and 
throat white, and the sides 
of the crown black. The 
young has the entire crown 
black and lacks the plumes 
of the old bird. As feed- 
ers these are solitary birds, 
though they nest and roost 
in colonies. Their food is 
made up of fishes, frogs, 
snakes, mice, etc. (Blue 
$ " Crane.") 

Length, 42-50 ; wing, 19 (18- 

Great Blue Heron 20); tail, 7|; tarsus, 7; culmen, 

4i-6i North America ; breeding 

north to Hudson Bay, and wintering from Pennsylvania south to the 

West Indies and northern South America. 

7. American Egret (196. Ardea egrettd). — A very large, pure 
white heron with about fifty straight "aigrette" plumes on 




FAM. XLV. HERONS, EGRETS, ETC. 



267 



the back (in the breeding season) reaching beyond the tail. 
To get these plumes, which are at present fashionable for 
ladies' hats, this species and the next must be shot in the 
breeding season ; so a few years of this " fashion " have made 
these most graceful and dainty birds very rare, and a few 
years more of the slaughter will render them extinct. Some 
women wearing such plumes try to exonerate themselves from 
blame on the plea that the birds are killed without their ap- 
proval, but that being dead no harm can be done by purchasing 
and using their feathers. They are forgetful of the fact that 
every use of such a plume continues the fashion, increases the 
demand, and leads to the further killing of birds in constantly 
increasing numbers. Hence all who wear the plumes are 
directly responsible for the slaughter of the birds. 

Length, 40 ; wing, 15 (14-17); tail, 6 ; tarsus, 6 ; culmen, 4^-5. Tem- 
perate and tropical America; breeding north to Illinois and New Jersey, 
straying to New Brunswick and Mani- 
toba, and wintering from Florida to 
Patagonia. 

8. Snowy Heron (197. Arclea 
candidissima). — A small, beauti- 
ful, crested, pure white heron, 
with about fifty recurved, "ai- 
grette " plumes on the back dur- 
ing the breeding season. The 
bill and legs are black, and the 
lores and feet yellow. Becom- 
ing exceedingly rare, because 
killed, like No. 7, in the breed- 
ing season. (Snowy Egret.) 

Length, 20-27 ; wing, 9± (8$-10£) ; 
tail, 4 ; tarsus, 3| ; culmen, 2-3^ 
Temperate and tropical America; Snowy Heron 

breeding north to Long Island, and 

wintering from Florida south to central South America, casually north 
to Nova Scotia and British Columbia. 




268 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



9. Reddish Egret (198. Ardea rufescens). — A southern, 
large, "aigrette" heron, which occurs in two color phases. 
(1) Pure white throughout, with the exception of the tips of 

the primaries, which 
are sometimes spec- 
kled with grayish. 
(2) Slate-colored on 
the body and chest- 
nut-colored on the 
neck. The adult, in 
breeding dress, has 
about thirty of the 
" aigrette " plumes. 
Intermediate forms 
between the phases 
are also found. 




Reddish Egret 




Louisiana Heron 



Length, 27-32; wing, 12| (12-14|) ; tail, 4|; tarsus, 5\ ; culinen, 3f. 
Gulf States north to southern Illinois, south to Jamaica and Central 
America. 

10. Louisiana Heron (199. Ardea tricolor ruficdllis). — A 
small, southern, bluish-slate-colored heron, with white belly 
and throat line and pur- 
plish crest and neck. The 
white rump is concealed 
by elongated, purplish- 
white - tipped " aigrette " 
plumes, reaching to the tail. As the young lack plumes, 
they show the white lower back and rump, and the back has 
more or less of brownish washings. 

Length, 23-28; wing, 10 (81-11); tail, 3}; tarsus, 3| ; culmen. 
3|-4|. Gulf States, south to Central America and West Indies, casually 
north to New Jersey and Indiana. 

11. Little Blue Heron (200. Ardea cmrulea). — A small, 
common, bluish-slate-colored heron, with the head and neck 
slightly purplish. The lower neck and back feathers are 
lengthened and sharply pointed. The legs and feet are black. 



FAIL XLV. HERONS, EGRETS, ETC. 



269 



The young are white, with bluish-slate-colored tips to the 
primaries and greenish-yellow legs and feet. Of course speci- 
mens with all gradations of color, intermediate between that of 
the young and adult, can be found. The young of this species 
can at some distance be distinguished from the snowy herons 
by their greenish instead of black legs. 

Length, 20-30 ; wing, 10 (9-11) ; tail, 4| ; tarsus, 3£ ; culmen, 2f-3f. 
Eastern United States; breeding north to Illinois and New Jersey, wander- 
ing north to Nova Scotia, and wintering from Florida to northern South 
America. 

12. Green Heron (201. Ardea virescens). — A common, small, 
dark-chestnut-bodied, greenish backed and crowned heron, 
with much white in streaks 
down the front from chin to 
the lower breast. This soli- 
tary heron is found more 
frequently in wooded bor- 
ders of streams and ponds 
than in open places, and is 
most active in the morning 
and evening. (Poke.) 

Length, 15f-22i; wing, 1\ 
(61-8) ; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, 2-2|. 
Temperate North America ; breed- 
ing north to Ontario and Oregon, 
and wintering from Florida to 
northern South America. 




Green Heron 



13. Black-crowned Night 
Heron (202. Nycticorax nycti- 
corax ncevius). — A common, 

stout-billed, night-flying, bluish-gray heron, with the crown and 
back greenish-black. The crown is furnished with two or 
three slender plumes. Young with much of mottled browns on 
the back and no plumes on the head. After sunset, these birds 
leave their roosts to feed, giving out occasionally their harsh 
quaick. They are very social, roosting together in hundreds. 



270 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Black-crowned Night Heron 

neck and lower parts are li 
loose feathers of the back 
extend beyond the tail. 
The colors of the young are 
mottled browns and there 
are no head plumes. These 
birds are solitary in their 
habits and are never seen 
in colonies like the last 
species. They are found 
singly or in pairs along the 
borders of wooded streams, 
birds than the black-crowned 



When feeding the young, 
they may be seen gather- 
ing food in the daytime. 
(Quawk.) 

Length, 24 ; wing, 12 (11-13); 
tail, 5 ; tarsus, 3^ ; culmen, 3. 
America ; breeding north to 
Ontario and Manitoba, and win- 
tering from the Gulf States to 
southern South America. 

14. Yellow-crowned Night 
Heron (203. Nydkorax vio- 
let ceus). — A common, 
crested and plumed, stout- 
billed, night-flying, grayish- 
blue heron with a buffy 
crown, white cheeks and 
mainly white plumes on an 
otherwise black head. The 
ghter than the back. The long, 




Yellow-crowned Night Heron 

and are less strictly nocturnal 
night heron. 



Length, 22-28; wing, 12 (10£-12£); tail, 5; tarsus, 4; culmen, 2f. 
Tropical and warm temperate North America, north to the Carolinas, 
lower Ohio Valley and Lower California, casually to Massachusetts and 
Colorado ; breeding throughout its United States range. 



FAM. XLVI. STORKS AND WOOD IBISES 



271 



FAMILY XLVI. STORKS AND WOOD IBISES (CICONIID^E) 

A family (25 species) of niainly Old World, stout-billed, 
heron-like birds with, a large portion of the head naked or free 
from feathers and with the bill neither curved for its whole 
length nor decidedly widened at tip. Our species have the 
bill extremely stout at base, it being practically as high as 
the head. 

Key to the Species 



* End of bill downward^ curved 1 

* End of bill upwardly curved ; 



1. Wood Ibis. 



^=2F) 



,2. Jabiru. 



1. Wood Ibis (188. Tdntalus loculhtor). 
large, white, ibis-like bird with the head 
feathers and the very 
long, stout bill straight 
for half its length, and 
curved downwards. The 
wing quills and the tail 
are glossy greenish- 
black. The young are 
more grayish in color, 
have the breast more or 
less feathered, and the 
head and neck a decided 
grayish-brown. 

Length, 35-45 ; wing, 181 
(171-191) ; tarsus, 8 ; cul- 
men, 7-9. Southern United 
States ; breeding in the Gulf 
States ; after the breeding 
season it sometimes wanders 
northward to Kansas and 
New York. South to central 
South America. Wood Ibis 



— An exceedingly 
and neck bare of 




272 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



2. Jabiru (189. MyctMa americ&na) . — A tropical, extremely 
large, white stork, with immensely large recurved bill; 

head and neck bare, except- 
ing a hairy patch on the back 
head. The head and neck are 
black, with a broad red collar 
round the lower part. The 
young has some brownish-gray 
on the back and lower portion 
of the neck. 

Length, 54 ; wing, 26 (24f-27) ; 
tail, 9| ; tarsus, 12 ; culmen, 9f-13. 
Tropical America ; north casually to 
southern Texas. 



FAMILY XLVII. IBISES 
(IBIDIDJE) 

A family (30 species) of large, 
short-legged (for the heron 
order), shore-living birds, with 
peculiarly long, downwardly 
curved bills. They are found only in warm countries, and live 
in flocks throughout the year. Their food is mainly crusta- 
ceans, reptiles, and fish which they find on mud flats at low 
tide, and on the shores of lakes, bays, and salt-water marshes. 
The four species here given are all that occur in North 
America. 

Key to the Species 

* General color white in the adult (grayish-brown in the young without 

bright reflections on the back) 1. White Ibis. 

* Bright red or scarlet 2. Scarlet Ibis. 

* Chestnut with purplish and greenish reflections in the adult (dark-brown 

with greenish reflections on the back in the young). (A.) 
A. Lores greenish in life ; feathers around the bill like the back in 

color 3. Glossy Ibis. 

A. Lores red ; feathers around the bill white 

4. White-faced Glossy Ibis. 




Jabiru 



FAIL XLVII. IBISES 



273 




"White Ibis 



1. White Ibis (184. Gudra dlba). — A large, shore-living, 
white bird, with a long sickle-like, downwardly curved bill. 
The tips of the outer 
primaries are black. 
The bill is evenly 
curved from end to 
end. The young is 
grayish-brown on 
the back, and white 
on the belly and 
rump. The flocks of 
these birds when 
on the wing are ren- 
dered conspicuous 
by the contrast be- 
tween the white of the general plumage and the black tips of 
the primaries. On account of the peculiar bill these silent 
birds have a curlew-like appearance, but the bare spot around 
the eyes distinguishes them. They live in flocks of from five 

to hundreds throughout the year. 
(Spanish " Curlew.") 

Length, 21-28 ; wing, 111 (10|-12£); 
tail, 5 ; tarsus, 31 ; culmen, 5-7. South 
Atlantic and Gulf States, south to north- 
ern South America ; north to North 
Carolina, Illinois, Utah, and Lower Cali- 
fornia, casually to Connecticut. 

2. Scarlet Ibis (185. Guam 

rubra). — A scarlet-colored ibis, 

with black tips to the secondaries. 

This is a South American bird, 

but has been seen a few times in 

Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and the 

West Indies. 

Length, 28 ; wing, 11 ; tail, 5 ; tarsus, 
-. 3f ; culmen, 6. 

Glossy Ibis 3. Glossy Ibis (186. Plegadis 

apgar's birds. — 18 




274 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



autumnalis). — A bright, chestnut-colored ibis, with brilliant, 
purplish and greenish reflections on the back, wings, under tail 
coverts, and the front of the head. The young is a blackish- 
brown bird, with greenish reflections on the back. This is a 
rare species in the United States. 

Length, 24 ; wing, 11 (10-12) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 3£ ; culmen, 4±-5|. 
Warmer parts of the Old World, the West Indies, and southeastern 
United States, wandering north to New England and Illinois. 

4.. White-faced Glossy Ibis (187. PUgadis guarduna). — A 
bird similar to the last. The young is so nearly like the 

young of the glossy ibis 
that the determination 
must be more or less un- 
certain, but the adult has 
White-faced Glossy Ibis white feathers around the 




base of the bill, 
are greenish. 

Length, 24 ; wing, 10| ; tail, 4 
United States from Texas to 
California and Oregon ; casually 
to Kansas and Florida; south- 
ward to West Indies, Mexico, 
and South America. 



FAMILY XLVIII. SPOON- 
BILLS (PLATALEID^) 

A small family (6 species) 
of long-legged, long-necked, 
heron-like shore birds, with 
peculiarly broadened, spoon- 
shaped bills. They all live 
in warm countries, and are 
usually found in flocks. 
Their method of obtaining 
food is peculiar. The bill 
is placed in the soft mud 



The lores are red in life, while those of jSTo. 3 



tarsus, 3f ; culmen, 3f-6. Western 




Koseate Spoonbill 



FAM. XLIX. FLAMINGOES 



275 



and swung from side to side, the food, which consists mainly of 
mollusks, being thus scraped up. 

1. Roseate Spoonbill (183. Ajaja (i-i-u-i) ajaja). — A very 

large, rare, southern, pink or rosy-colored ibis-like bird, with a 

head bare of feathers, and a bill much broadened at the tip, like 

a spoon. The sides of neck and end of the tail are buff, and the 

neck and upper back nearly white. The young has the head 

feathered. These birds are generally in flocks, and the nesting 

is in colonies. (Pink "Curlew.") 

Length, 28-35; wing, 15; tail, 4|; tarsus, 4£; culmen, 6f. South 
Atlantic and Gulf States, south to Patagonia. 



ORDER XII. TOOTH-BILLED WADERS (ODONTO- 
GLOSS^l) 

An order consisting of the following : 

FAMILY XLIX. FLAMINGOES 
(PHCENICOPTERID^) 

A small family (7 species) of large, exceedingly 
long-legged, long-necked, web-footed, semi-tropical 
birds, with peculiarly bent bill, the edges of 
which are furnished with ridges or lamellae, 
like those of the ducks. 

1. American Flamingo (182. Pliozni- 
cdpterus ruber). — A southern, ex- 
ceedingly tall, rosy to vermilion- 
colored wading bird, with black 
wing quills, and a peculiar, heavy, 
abruptly bent bill. The toes of the 
flamingo are fully webbed, and the 
lamellae of the bill are used as 
strainers (as in the case of the 
ducks) through which the sand and 
mud are separated from the food. 
These birds gather in flocks in shal- 




276 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

low bays or mud flats, usually near the sea, and with the bill 
in the soil procure their food, which consists in great part of 
niollusks and crustaceans. In flying, the neck and legs are 
stretched out at full length. 

Length, 45 ; wing, 16 ; tail, 6 ; tarsus, 13 ; culmen, 5£. Atlantic coast 
of the warmer parts oi America ; southern Florida. 

ORDER XIII. LAMELLIROSTRAL OR TOOTH- 
BILLED SWIMMERS (ANSERES) 

An order consisting of the following : 

FAMILY L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS (ANATID^E) 

This, the largest family (200 species) of swimming birds, 
comprises all our domestic water fowl as well as an important 
portion of the gunner's prey. Their feathers form the softest 
material for our pillows and couches, and their flesh the most 
palatable of foods. These birds are readily separated 
into five easily recognized groups or subfamilies, viz : 
swans, geese, sea ducks, river ducks, and fish ducks. 
They are all furnished with ridges or teeth along the 
edges of the bill, 1 which in most cases serve as strainers 
for removing the mud, sand, etc., from the food; in a few 
cases they serve as teeth. 

(1) The Swans, wnich are the largest of these birds, form the 
smallest group (10 species). They are large, very long-necked, 
white (adult), gracefully swimming birds, with a stripe of 
bare skin extending from the eye to the bill. Because of 
the position of the legs, far back along the body, their move- 
ments on land are very awkward. In feeding they do not 
dive, but merely tip up the body, or usually simply thrust the 
head and neck under water. Their food is in good part vege- 
table, but they eat snails also. Kos. 1 and 2. 

(2) The Geese form a group intermediate between the swans 
and the ducks. They are large, long-necked, comparatively 
long-legged birds, with the space in front of the eye feathered. 




FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 277 

They spend much less of their time in the water than ducks 
do, and the food of most species is almost entirely vegetable. 
The legs being longer, they are better walkers than ducks. In 
water they obtain their food by tipping up the tail and thrust- 
ing the head and neck as far into the water as possible. In 
this habit they are like the swans and the river ducks, but 
unlike the sea ducks and the fish ducks. The hissing, when 
they are interfered with, is a trait common to both geese and 
swans. Xos. 3-10. 

(3) The Sea Ducks are the largest of the subfamilies (nearly 
100 species), and they are found in the largest flocks. These 
are the ducks of the open and deeper waters of 
large lakes, bays, and coasts; many of the species 
are found only in salt water. They do not, as a rule, 
"tip up" like the river ducks, but dive, often to 

great depths, for their food. This consists mainly of animal 
matter, such as snails, crustaceans, etc., but not including 
fish. These ducks have the hind toe bordered with a 
rounded membrane or lobe-like web. 2 They are generally day 
feeders, while most of the river ducks feed at night. With 
the exception of the canvas-backs, considered the best of all 
ducks for food, the sea ducks are not so palatable as the 
river ducks. Some species have very rank, coarse flesh, 
while the river ducks are all good table food if well cooked. 
Nos. 11-28. 

(4) The River Ducks (50 species) include most of the ducks 
of rivers and ponds, and differ from the last subfamily in not 
diving for their food. They are mere " tip ups," spending a 

good portion of their time with their tails in air and 
heads and necks immersed, probing the bottom of 
shallow places for their food, which consists of both 
vegetable and animal matter, such as roots, seeds, 
snails, insects, etc. The hind toe is simple ; 3 that is, it has 
no such lobed membrane as is found on the sea ducks. These 
ducks are found in the United States, chiefly as migrants, 
and visit mainly quiet and shallow and usually fresh waters. 




278 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

When disturbed, they leave the water at a bound, and in a 
few seconds are beyond the gunner's range. • 

(5) The Fish Ducks are narrow-billed ducks, with the heads 
generally crested. They have the lobed hind toe, 4 and like the 
sea ducks, dive for their food. Their prey consists of fish, 
which they pursue under water. There are but three species 
in North America, of which two are " fishy " food. Only the 
hooded merganser is good for table use. The saw-like teeth 
along the nearly cylindrical bill 3 enable these ducks to capture 
their prey and give the name sawbills. 

Key to the Subfamilies 

* Neck as long as the body ; tarsus, 4 or more long ; wing, 20 or more ; 

adult entirely white Swans, below. 

* Neck shorter than the body ; tarsus under 4 long. (A. ) 

A. Tarsus, 2-4 long and longer than the middle toe without claw (ex- 
cept in No. 10, a southern species with a hind toe about 1 long); 

front of tarsus with rounded scales * instead of square scutellae 

Geese, p. 280. 

A. Tarsus not over 2 long and shorter than the middle toe without 
claw; front of tarsus with distinct scutellae. 2 (B.) 
B. Bill nearly cylindrical, only about as wide as high throughout ; 3 head 

in most cases distinctly crested Fish Ducks, p. 304. 

B. Bill always wider than high near tip ; head rarely crested. (C.) 

C. Hind toe with a rounded membranous lobe 4 Sea Ducks, p. 284. 

C. Hind toe without a lobe-like border 2 River Ducks, p. 297. 

SWANS (SUBFAMILY CYGNIN^E) 

Characteristics given on p. 276 

Key to the Species 

* Bare skin in front of eye with yellow ; back end of nostril much nearer 

to the tip of bill than it is to the front corner of the eye 

1. Whistling Swan. 

* Bare skin in front of eye without yellow ; back end of nostril about 

midway between the tip of bill and the front corner of the eye 

2. Trumpeter Swan. 






FAM. L. BUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



279 




1. Whistling Swan 2. Trumpeter Swan 



1. Whistling Swan (180. Olor columbi&nus). — An exceedingly 
large, very long-necked, swimming bird, with the plumage 
white throughout. Feet and 
bill black, with a yellow spot 
on the lores. Young gray- 
ish with a brownish head. 
When feeding, this swan is 
very noisy, especially at 
night. Its "notes are ex- 
tremely varied, some closely 
resembling the deepest base 
of the common tin horn, 
while others run through 
every modulation of false 
note of the French horn or clarionet." These different notes 
are supposed to be given by birds of different ages. Kare on 
the Atlantic coast north of Virginia. 

Length, 56 ; wing, 22 ; tail, 1\ ; tarsus, 4 ; culmen, 4. North America ; 
breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering along the South Atlantic 
States. 

2. Trumpeter Swan (181. Olor buccinator). — Like the last 
but larger and without the yellow spot on the bare skin in 

front of the eye. 
Young with the body 
grayish tinted and 
the head and neck 
somewhat brownish. 
Bare east of the Mis- 
sissippi. The habits 
are about the same as 
in No. 1, but the notes 
Whistling Swan are more musical. 

Length, 64 ; wing, 24 (21-28) ; tail, 8| ; tarsus, 4f ; culmen, 4±. Chiefly 
in the interior of North America ; breeding from Iowa northward, and 
wintering along the Gulf States. Its habitat extends from the Atlantic to 
the Pacific but it is very rare along the Atlantic. 




280 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



GEESE (SUBFAMILY ANSERINE) 

Characteristics given on p. 276 
Key to the Species 

* Wing, 8-10 long ; Louisiana to Texas 10. Fulvous Tree-duck. 

* Wing over 11 long. (A.) 

A. Serrations on the cutting edge of the upper mandible scarcely visi- 
ble from the side at all ; if visible then only at the base ; bill, feet, 
and portions of the head black. (D.) 
A. Serrations visible from the side for more than half the length of 
bill ; bill and feet pale. (B.) 
B. Depth of bill at base about \ the length of culmen ; forehead white 

in the adult 5. White-fronted Goose. 

B. Depth of bill at base much greater than \ the length of culmen. (C. ) 
C. General plumage of adult white ; young grayish-brown with the 

wing coverts widely margined with white 3. Snow Goose. 

C. General plumage gray, grayish-brown, or brown without conspicuous 

white margins to the wing coverts 4. Blue Goose. 

D. Head without white but the side of the neck with white streaks ; belly 

white 7. Brant. 

D. Head without white but the side and front of the neck with white 

streaks ; belly brownish-gray 8. Black Brant. 

D. Head with a whitish triangular patch on the cheek and throat (these 

parts are mixed with blackish in the young) 6. Canada Goose. 

D. Head mostly white ; lores black 9. Barnacle Goose. 

3. Lesser Snow Goose (169. Chen hyperbored). — A large, 
white-plum aged goose, with black-tipped primaries, and red 
bill and feet. The young has much grayish on the head and 

back ; rump, tail, and 
lower parts white, and 
white margins to the 
wing coverts. This, 
the smaller snow 

_ goose, is rarely found 

* I east of the Missis- 

y | sippi. The eastern 

I form is given below. 

Lesser Snow Goose Length, 23-28 ; wing, 

141-17 ; tail, h\ ; tarsus, 
2f-3£ ; culmen, 2-21 Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley ; breeding 
in Alaska, and wintering south to Illinois and California. The Greater 




FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



281 



Snow Goose (169 a . C. h. nivalis) is like the last, but much larger. 
Length, 28-38 ; wing, 17-19 ; tail, 6£ ; tarsus, 3-3^ ; culmen, 2f-2f. 
North America ; breeding far north, and wintering from Maryland to 
Cuba. Eare on the Atlantic coast north of Virginia. 

4. Blue Goose (169-1. Chen coerulescens). — A brownish-gray 
goose, with the head and upper neck white, and the middle and 
lower, neck blackish. The lower belly is a light gray, or some- 
times almost white. The wing coverts have almost no whitish 
margins. The young has the head and neck grayish-brown, 
with only the chin white. 

Length, 26-30 ; wing, 15-17 ; tail, 5| ; tarsus, 3£ ; culmen, 1\. Interior 
of North America ; breeding on eastern shores, Hudson Bay, and wintering 
on the Gulf coast. Eare on the Atlantic coast. 

5. American White-fronted Goose (171 a . Anser dlbifrons gdm- 
beli). — A large, 
brown-necked, gray- 
backed, white-bellied 
goose, with a white 
forehead on an oth- 
erwise brown head. 
The nearly white 
breast is peculiarly- 
blotched with black. 
The young lacks the 
white forehead and 
the black breast 
blotches. Although 
rare on the Atlantic 
coast, these geese are 
common from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific, mainly 
in low, bushy, or wooded regions. 

Length, 27-30; wing, 141 171 ; tail, b\ ; tarsus, 2f-3£; culmen,lf-2£. 
North America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering south to 
Mexico and Cuba. 

6. Canada Goose (172. Brdnta canadensis). — A common, very 
large, grayish-brown-bodied, black-necked, black-tailed goose, 




American White-fronted Goose 



282 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



with a broad white patch under the head, extending on the 
sides back of the eyes. The chin and the rest of the head are 

black. The under 
parts are much light- 
er, fading to white 
around the tail. The 
young has the white 
cheek and throat 
patch mixed with 
blackish. This is the 
common wild goose 
of the eastern United 
States, and the wedge 
form of the flocks 
in their migrations 
through the air has 
honking heard by most 




Canada Goose 



been seen and the noise of their 



persons. 

Length, 35-43 ; wing, 15|-21 ; tail, 7 ; tarsus, 2£-3£ ; 
Temperate North America ; breeding in the Northern 
States and British Provinces, and wintering from the 
Middle States to Mexico. The Hutchins's Goose (172 a . 
B. c. hutchinsii) is like the last but smaller. Length, 
25-34; wing, 15-18; tail, 5£ ; tarsus, 2|; culmen, l^-lf- 
North America ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and mi- 
grating south, mainly through the Mississippi Valley and 
westward. The Cackling Goose (172 c . B. c. 
minima) is still smaller and has a 
darker and more brownish breast 
and upper belly. Length, 
23-25 ; wing, 131-15 ; tail, 
5 ; tarsus, 2| ; culmen, li 
Western North America; 
breeding in Alaska, and 
migrating southward 
through the Western 
States, west to Wisconsin. 



culmen, H-2f. 



7. Brant (173. Brdnta 
bernicla). — A large, 




Brant 



FAM, L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



283 



brownish-gray goose, with black head, neck, and breast, except 
some white scratchings on the sides of the neck just below the 
head. The lower breast is ashy, fading to white on the belly 
and longer tail coverts ; the wing quills and tail feathers are 
almost black. The young has less white on the neck, but the 
secondary wing quills are tipped with white. These geese fly 
in a rather compact mass without the leader so characteristic 
with the Canada goose. 

Length, 23-30$ ; wing, 12±-13£ ; tail, 4| ; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, 1£-1£. 
Northern portions of the northern hemisphere, in North America chiefly 
on the Atlantic coast. Rare away from salt water. 

8. Black Brant (174. Brdnta nigricans). — Like the last, but 
the lower breast and upper belly are much darker, almost 
blackish, and the white 
scratchings are found 
both on the sides and 
front of the neck. 

Length, 22-29 ; wing, 13 
tail, 4$ ; tarsus, Z\ ; cul 
men, \\. Arctic and west 
ern North America; migrat- 
ing south to lower California 
casual in the Atlantic States 

9. Barnacle Goose (175 

Brdnta leucdpsis). — An 

Old World goose with 

nearly the whole head 

white to the neck, except 

a black loral stripe. It 

is rarely found on our 

shores. 

Length, 24-28 ; wing, 15- 
17 ; tail, 5$ ; tarsus, 2f ; cul- 
men, If. 




Barnacle Goose 



10. Fulvous Tree-duck (178. Dendrocygna fulva). — An ex- 
treme southern, small, duck-like, yellowish-brown goose with 



284 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



white tail coverts both above and below. This white is 
rendered conspicuous by the black rump and tail ; there is 

also a black line extend- 
ing down the nape and 
back neck. The wing is 
without a white specu- 
lum. This bird nests in 
trees, and to give it 
power to grasp the limbs 
of trees its hind toe is 
much lengthened, being 
about an inch long. 

Length, 20 ; wing, 9 ; tail, 
3£ ; tarsus, 2£ ; cultnen, If. 
Southern United States, Lou- 
isiana, and Texas to Cali- 
fornia, and southward to 
Mexico. Also in South 
America. Casual in North 
Carolina and Missouri. The 
Black-bellied Tree-duck 
Fulvous Tree-duck ( 177 - Dendrocygna autum- 

nalis) is a similar bird, but 
has a large white patch on the wings and a black belly. It is found from 
southern Texas westward, and southward into South America. 




SEA DUCKS (SUBFAMILY FULIGULIN^E) 

Characteristics given on p. 277 



Key to the Species 

Wing, 6 or less long ; tail feathers with narrow webs and stiff shafts 

extending beyond the webs ; 1 upper tail cov- 

'erts very short. (N.) 
Wing, 6-7 long ; upper tail coverts about i as 

long as the tail 18. Buffle-head. 

Wing over 7 long. (A. ) 

A. Feathers at the side and at the top of the bill so extended as to 
leave a bare portion between, which is | as long as the bill. 2 (L.) 
A. No such great extension of both the loral and the frontal feathers 
on the upper mandible. (B.) 




FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 285 

B. Bill peculiarly bulging at base ; 3 nail large and so united with the bill 

as to give the nail a very indistinct outline. (J. ) 
B. Bill appendaged with a lobe at base formed of the skin of the cheeks ; 4 

culmen about 1 long ; speculum 5 violet 20. Harlequin Duck. 

B. Bill appendaged with a leathery expansion at the sides near tip ; cul- 
men over 1^ long ; speculum white. The Labrador Duck (156. Camp- 
tolaimus labradbrius) might possibly be found, though it is thought 
to be extinct. 
B. Bill of the usual duck form. (C.) 

C. Tail pointed (over 6 long, male ; about 3 long, female) ; bill black 

and orange ; nostril within less than \ inch of frontal feathers 

19. Old Squaw. 

C. Nostril about i inch from frontal feathers ; nail of bill narrow and 
distinct. (D.) 
D. Bill high at base (over a as high as long) ; under tail coverts white. (I.) 
D. Bill not so high at base ; under tail coverts dark. (E.) 
E. Bill decidedly wider near tip than at base. 6 (G.) 
E. Bill with the width near tip about the same as at base (in any case 
less than \ inch wider). (F.) 

F. Bill about \ as wide as the length of culmen 11. Redhead. 

F. Bill about \ as wide as long 12. Canvas-back. 

G. Male with an orange ring around neck ; speculum 5 bluish-gray ; 

female chiefly brown 15. Ring-necked Duck. 

G. Male with white speculum ; female with white face. (H.) 

H. Wing over 8^ long 13. American Scaup Duck. 

H. Wing under 8 J long 14. Lesser Scaup Duck. 

I. Male with gloss of the almost black head and throat green ; female 

-with a brown head 16. American Golden Eye. 

I. Male with the gloss of the dark head and throat purple ; female 

with a brown head 17. Barrow's Golden Eye. 

J. Wing, 10^ or more long ; a white wing patch in both sexes 

25. White-winged Scoter. 

J. Wing less than 10| long. (K.) 
K. Culmen, If or more long ; the feathers on the culmen reaching 
about as far forward as those on the sides of the upper mandible 

24. American Scoter. 

K. Culmen less than If long ; feathers on the culmen reaching about 
an inch farther forward than those on the side of the upper man- 
dible 26. Surf Scoter. 

L. Feathers on the culmen extending forward much farther than those 
on the side of the upper mandible 23. King Eider. 





^ 



286 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



L. Feathers on the side of the bill extending forward farther than those 
on the culmen. (M. ) 
M. The two bare stripes of bill between the culmen feathers and the 

side feathers end in sharp points 21. Northern Eider 

M. The two bare stripes with the back ends broad and rounded . . . 

22. American Eider 

N. Outer toe longer than the middle toe ; lining of the wings whitish 

27. Ruddy Duck 

N. Outer toe shorter than the middle toe ; lining of the wings blackish 
28. Masked Duck 

11. Redhead (146. Aythya americclna). — A duck similar 
to the next, and often confounded with it. The head is 

a lighter color, 
and has not the 
blackish blotches, 
found on crown and 
chin of that species ; 
the wavy lines of 
black and white on 
the back are about 
equal in width, 
while in the canvas- 
back the white ones 
are wider; the com- 
parative width of 
bill is greater, being 
nearly one half the 
length. The female 
lacks the wavy cross 
lines of the female 
canvas-back, so is readily distinguished from that species. 
It is more like the female ring-neck (No. 15) in coloring, but 
has a wing over 8 long, while the ring-neck has one less than 
8 long. 

Length, 17-22 ; wing, 9 (8J-9J) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, 2\. 
North America ; breeding from Maine, Michigan, and California north- 
ward, and wintering from the Middle States south to Mexico. Found on 
bays and rivers rather than on coasts. 




Redhead 



FAM. L. BUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



287 



12. Canvas-back (147. Aythya vdllisn^ria). — A large, chest- 
nut-headed, black-breasted duck, with the back, wings, and 
lower belly appear- 
ing like canvas, with 
line wavy cross lines 
of black and white, 
the white lines wider. 
Female, with the 
whole head and neck 
somewhat of a choc- 
olate or cinnamon 
color, aud the back 
grayish-brown barred 
with white, wavy 
cross lines. Belly 
whitish. This spe- 
cies has the name 
among epicures of 
being the best of all 
game ducks. Be- 
cause of its destruction for food purposes, it is becoming 
scarcer each year. The species, 11-15, are somewhat interme- 
diate between river and sea ducks, and are more frequently 
found on rivers and bays than on open seas ; when on shallow 
waters they merely " tip up " in feeding. 

Length, 20-24 ; wing, 9 (8|-9i) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, 21 
North America ; breeding from the northwestern states northward, and 
wintering from the Middle States to Cuba and Mexico. 

13. American Scaup Duck (148. Aythya marila nearctica). — 
A large, common, black-headed, " canvas "-backed black- 
breasted, black-tailed duck, with white speculum and belly; 
the head shows, in proper light, greenish reflections. The back, 
sides, and lower belly are covered with many black and white 
wavy cross-bars. The female is mainly umber-brown colored, 
with a white speculum, belly, and band around base of bill ; 
the back and sides are generally waved with white bars. The 




Canvas-back 



288 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




name scaup is derived from the sound of its notes. A very 
common bay duck. (Greater Scaup Duck ; Black-head ; Blue- 
bill.) 

Length, 19 ; wing, 8f (8£-9) ; tail, 3 ; 
tarsus, If ; culmen, 2. North America ; 
breeding from Manitoba (rarely Minne- 
sota) northward, and wintering from Long 
Island to northern South America. 

14. Lesser Scaup Duck (149. 
Ay thy a affmis). — A duck smaller 
than the last, but with nearly the 
same coloring, excepting that the re- 
flections from the head of the male 
are purplish. The female can be 
separated from the last only by the 
difference in size. The habits of 
the two species are much the same, 
but this one is more frequently 
found in the fresh waters of bays 
and rivers. (Little Black-head.) 

Length, 16 ; wing, 7| (7f-8^) ; tail, 2\ ; tarsus, If ; culmen, If. North 
America ; breeding mainly north of the United States, and wintering from 
Virginia to Cuba. 

15. Ring-necked Duck (150. Aythya collaris). — A small, 
white-bellied, black duck, with an indistinctly outlined chest- 
nut collar around the neck. The speculum is gray, and the 
lower belly and sides have wavy cross lines of black. The 
female is rusty-brown, with white belly and gray speculum. 
The wing is less than 8 long. This is especially a fresh-water 
duck, probably more so than any other que of the genus. 

Length, 17; wing, 1\ ; tail, 2| ; tarsus, If; culmen, \\. North 
America ; breeding in the interior from Iowa northward, and winter- 
ing from the Middle States to Central America. Not common on the 
Atlantic coast north of Virginia. 

16. American Golden-eye (151. Glaucionetta clangida ameri- 
c&na). — A brightly marked, dark-green (almost black) headed, 



American Scaup Duck 



FAM. L. BUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



289 



black and white chick. The back, tail, and primaries are black ; 
a spot at base of bill, neck, under parts, and much of the wrings 
white. The white spot on the head is rounded 'and about a 
half inch high. The female is a brown-headed, grayish-backed, 
white-bellied duck with white speculum on wings. This duck 




King-necked Dnck 



receives its name ""Whistler" from the unusually loud sound 
produced by its wings when flying. ("Whistler ; Garrot.) 

Length, 19 ; wing, 8f (8-9±) ; tail, 3| ; tarsus, 1J ; culmen, lf-2. 
North America ; breeding from Maine northward, and wintering through- 
out most of the United States to Cuba and Mexico. 

17. Barrow's Golden-eye (152. Glaucionetta isldndica). — A 
duck similar to the last, but the head and throat are a dark, 
glossy, purplish-blue instead of green, and the white spot at 

APGAR*S BIRDS. 19 



290 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



base of bill is elongated and more or less pointed at the ends, 
measuring along the bill an inch. The female is so like the 
last that it cannot always be distinguished from it. This is 
the more northern species. (Rocky Mountain Garrot.) 




American Golden-eye 



Barrow's Golden-eye 



Length, 21; wing, 9 (8£-9£) ; tail, 4; tarsus, \\; culmen, If— If. 
Northern North America ; breeding from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and 
Colorado northward, and wintering south to New York, Illinois, and 

Utah. 

18. Buffle-head (153. Chari- 
tonetta albeola). — A very small, 
common, black-backed, gray- 
tailed, white duck, with a fluffy 
head peculiarly marked with 
black, purple, green, and white. 
The white forms a broad patch 
across the top of the head, and 
ends back of the eyes. The 
wing is mainly white except- 
ing the black primaries. The 
female does not have the full 
fluffy head of the male; the 
head and back are a rich 
brown, fading through grays 
to a white breast and fore- 




FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



291 



belly. There is a distinct patch, of white on the cheeks and a 
white speculum on the wings. This bird is noted as a diver, 
being compared to the grebes. (Dipper; Spirit-duck; Butter- 
ball.) 

Length, 14| ; wing, 6i (6-7) ; tarsus, 1|- ; culmen, 1. North America; 
breeding from Maine and Montana northward, and wintering from the 
Middle States to West Indies and Mexico. 

19. Old-squaw (154. CIdngula liyemalis). — In winter it is 

a long-tailed, brown duck, with a white belly, head, and neck, 
except a brown patch 
on the side of the 
head, gray around the 
eyes, and light gray 
shoulder feathers. In 
early spring it is 
sometimes found in 
more or less of breed- 
ing dress, when the 
whole upper parts, 
including neck and 
breast, are rich browns, excepting a large patch of light gray 
around the eyes. The female lacks the two long tail feathers of 
the male, and is a white-bellied, blackish-brown-backed, white- 
headed duck, with, blackish spots on cheeks, crown, and chin. 
The scolding or talking notes of this bird have given it many of 
the common names. (Long-tail ; South-southerly ; Old-wife.) 

Length, 15-23; wing, 8f (8|-9) ; tail, female 2i, male 8; tarsus, 1^; 
culmen, 1\. Northern hemisphere ; breeding in the Arctic regions and in 
America, wintering south to Virginia and Kentucky, rarely to Florida 
and Texas. 

20. Harlequin Duck (loo. Histridnicus Mstridnicus). — A 
northern, rich, blue-slate-colored duck, with fantastically 
arranged white marks, brown belly, and chestnut sides. 
There are two white collars, one above and one below the 
breast; three white patches on the side of head and neck, 
one at base of bill, one on cheek, and one on side of neck; 




Old- s (paw 



292 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




a mahogany-colored stripe on side of crown, and several white 
blotches on wings. Female, grayish-brown, with the front of 
head and a patch on the cheek whitish. Belly 
lighter than the back. A most expert diver, 
living on fish and other water animals, and 
forming but poor food for human beings. 

Length, 16£; wing, 7£ (7-8) ; tail, 3| ; tar- 
sus, II; culmen, If. Northern North 
America ; breeding from Newfound- 
land northward, and wintering 
south to the Middle States and 
California. 

21. Northern Eider 

(159. Somateria mol- 
lissima borealis). — 
This more northern 
Harlequin Duck e [fe r duck, which is 

rarely found as far south as Massachusetts, has the bare por- 
tions of the bill extending backward by the sides of the culmen 
in two narrow, rather sharp points ; in the next species these 
points are broad and rounded. The colors are practically the 
same as those of the Ameri- 
can eider, given below. 

Length, 24; wing, 11; tail, 
4 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, If. 
Northern North America ; win- 
tering south to coast of Massa- 
chusetts. 

22. American Eider (160. 
Somateria dresseri). — In 
breeding plumage, it is a 
large, mainly white duck, 
with the lower parts from 
breast, the tail, and lower 
back black. The head is 
greenish tinted, and has a large V-shaped patch of black on 
the crown, and the breast is creamy tinted. The female (also 




1. Northern Eider 2. American Eider 



FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 293 

the male in certain stages) is rusty-brown to buffy, mottled 

and barred with black, the mottling including the head 

and throat. Both of 

these eiders have prac- ^P^ 

tically the same habits ; ^t_, ^» 

they are true sea ducks, 

spending most of their 

time some distance from 

shore, diving for mus- \ 

sels, which form their ^L ^ ^^^ 

principal food. ^/&*?~*' ''- ^^4k ^^L. 

Length, 24; wing, 11; ^^||8£- -- ^^^J^k ^L 

tail, -4 ; tarsus, If ; c ul men, ^^^Ivfcir^i^? Bl^Bfek 

If. Atlantic coast of North ^^^mMg$$j^jjj^P^^^^^§ 

America ; breeding from -r~S^§T 

Maine to Labrador, and ***™SPP^ '^ 

wintering south to New Jer- fl 

sey and west to the Great 

Lakes. 

American Eider 

23. King Eider (162. 
Somath'ia spectdbilis). — A large, distinctly blotched, black- 
bodied duck, with mainly white head, neck, and breast. The 
crown is bluish-gray, cheeks somewhat green, and breast buff. 

There is a black band 
at base of upper man- 
dible and a V-shaped 
mark under the 
throat ; white wing 
coverts and side of 
rump. The female is 
rusty-brown, mottled 
and barred with dark- 
er, but with head and 
throat almost un- 
streaked. The king 
eider can be best distinguished by the feathering at the side of 
the bill, which does not reach forward to the nostril. 




294 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 24; wing, 11; tail, 4; tarsus, If; culmen, 
hemisphere ; breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering in America 
south to Great Lakes, and casually to Virginia or even to Georgia. 

24. American Scoter (163. Oidemia americ&na). — A large, 
northern, winter, black duck, with the upper parts slightly- 
iridescent and the lower parts slightly brownish. The bill of 
the male has a peculiar hump back of the nostrils, which is 
lacking in the female. The female is dusky-brown in color, 
lighter below, with some dull white about throat, lower part of 
head, and belly. This and the next two species, popularly 
called " coots," are very poor food for man, being extremely 
"fishy." All these scoters are alike in habits, living mainly 
at sea, over beds of bivalves, for which they 
dive. (Black Coot.) 

Length, 20; wing, 9 (8|-9A); tail, 4; tarsus, If; 
culmen, 1}. Northern North America, living mainly 
along coasts and on large inland waters; 
breeding from Labrador westward, and 
wintering south to New Jersey, 
Great Lakes, Colorado, and Cali- 
fornia. 

White-winged Scoter 

(165. Oidemia deglan- 
di). — A black duck 
with white speculum 
on the wings and a 
white spot below the 
eye. The feathers 
on the side of upper 
mandible reach al- 
most to the nostril, 
White-winged Scoter about ag f ^ ag &Q 

those on the culmen. This is the best feature by which to 
distinguish this scoter. The female (also the male and young 
in winter) is sooty-brown, lighter and grayer below, with 
white speculum, and more or less of whitish spots on the head. 
(White-winged Coot.) 




FAM. L. BUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



295 



Length, 22; wing, 11 (10A-11J); tail, 4i; tarsus, 2; culmen, 1|. 
Northern North America ; breeding in Labrador and westward, and 
wintering south to Virginia, southern Illinois, and Lower California. 



^3^B^ 



Surf Scoter 



26. Surf Scoter (166. OicUmia perspicillata). — A black duck, 
with a square white blotch on the crown and a triangular one 
on the back neck. The orange and 
yellow bill has a round black spot on 
the side back of the nostril. The feath- 
ers on the culmen extend forward almost 
to the nostril, while those on the side of 
bill do not. The female is almost every- 
where sooty-brown, paler below, and 
wdiitish on the belly ; the sides of the head have whitish spots 
at base of bill and on cheeks. The female has not such a bulg- 
ing base of bill nor such an extension of feathers on the 
culmen. (Sea Coot.) 

Length, 20; wing, 9£ (9-10); tail, 4; tarsus, If; culmen, 1|. North- 
ern North America, on coasts and inland waters ; breeding from the Gulf 
of St. Lawrence northward, and wintering south to Virginia and the Ohio 
River, and casually to Florida. 

27. Ruddy Duck (167. Erismatura rhbida). — A small, com- 
mon, and, in full dress, brightly colored, black-crowned, white- 
cheeked, chestnut- 
backed duck, with 
wavy white and 
gray breast and un- 
der parts, and a 
short, black tail of 
narrow, stiff, sharp- 
pointed feathers. 
The female (also 
the male as usually 
found) has a dull 

reddish-brown 
Ruddy Duck . . . . . . , 

back, grayisn-wnite 

cheeks with a dusky bar extending back from the bill, and the 




296 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



lower parts mottled buffs and browns. The species can be 
readily separated from all others (except the next, which is 
very rare), by the peculiar tail feathers almost exposed to 
their bases. This is a good diver and often escapes pursuit by 
diving backwards and swimming under water to some secure 
place where it can hide. In flying, its rounded form and rapid 
wing movements enable one to distinguish it from other ducks. 
In rising from the water it makes use of its feet, running, as 
it were, on the surface of the water for some distance, before 
it is able to sustain itself in the air. If there is not room for 
this surface running, it will dive and hide rather than attempt 
flight. In swimming, it frequently holds its tail erect, and 
this attitude gives it a peculiar appearance. 

Length, 15; wing, 5f (5$-6); tail, 3| ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, \\. North 
America south to northern South America ; breeding mainly north of the 

United States, but lo- 
cally even south to Cen- 
tral America. 

28. Masked Duck 
(168. N dm onyx 
dominicus). — A 
small, tropical, stiff- 
tailed duck which 
has accidentally 
drifted into the 
United States a few 
times. It is a chest- 
nut-red duck, with 
black on the crown and back, and white on the wings at the 
coverts. The female is a mottled, dusky, yellowish-brown and 
rusty duck, with two blackish stripes on each side of the head. 
The inner secondaries are so lengthened as to fold over the 
primaries in the cloud wing. 

Length, 13; wing, 5£; tail, 31 ; tarsus, 1; culmen, If. Tropical 
America north to the Gulf coast of Texas and accidental in Wisconsin, 
New York, and Massachusetts. 




Masked Duck 



FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 297 

RIVER DUCKS (SUBFAMILY ANATIN^E) 

Characteristics given on p. 277 
Key to the Species 

* Bill decidedly broadened toward tip, being nearly twice as wide as at 

base i ; 38. Shoveller. 

* Bill little if at all widened toward tip. (A.) 

A. Tail feathers broad and rounded at tip ; head more or less crested ; 

crown green or greenish with purple reflections ; throat white 

40. Wood Duck. 

A. Head not crested. (B.) 
B. Central tail feathers very much lengthened, making tail over 7 long 
(male), or central feathers broad and sharp-pointed (female) ; neck 

unusually long 39. Pintail. 

B. Tail and neck not lengthened. (C.) 

C. Bill decidedly shorter than the head ; wing, 9^-11^ 

long ; belly white. (I.) 
C. Bill about as long as the head, or longer. (D.) l 

D. Wing less than 81 long. (H.) c&kpul^ 

D. Wing over 9^ long. (E.) 

E. Speculum 2 white or grayish white 32. Gadwall. 

E. Speculum a rich purple with a black border. (F.) 2 

F. Speculum bordered at both ends with narrow black and white bands. 

29. Mallard Duck. 

F. Speculum with only a black border, no white. (G.) 

G. Throat blackish or buffy, without streaks 31. Florida Duck. 

G. Throat finely streaked with black 30. Black Duck. 

H. Wing coverts leaden gray without blue 35. Green-winged Teal. 

H. Wing coverts sky blue. .36. Blue- winged Teal. 37. Cinnamon Teal. 

I. Head and throat mainly buffy, finely barred with black 

34. Baldpate. 

I. Head and throat with much brown or reddish brown 

33. Widgeon. 

29. Mallard (132. Anas bdschas). — A large, brilliantly 
colored, bright-green-headed, chestnut-breasted duck, with a 
white ring around the lower neck. The belly and sides are 
nearly white, barred with many fine, wavy lines of black ; the 
back is brown; upper tail coverts black and some of them 
recurved. The speculum is rich purple, bordered by both black 
and white bands. Female very different except the speculum ; 
the colors peculiarly mottled buffy and brownish blacks. This 



298 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



species is far more common in the interior than on the coast. 

It is the original form of the common domestic duck, and its 

voice is the same quack, (Green- 
head.) 

Length, 23 ; wing, 11 (10f-12) ; 
tail, 3|; tarsus, If; culmen, 2f. 
Northern hemisphere ; breeding from 
the Gulf States northward, and win- 
tering south to Central America. 

30. Black Duck (133. Anas 
obscura). — A very dark-colored, 
almost black duck, with a black- 
bordered rich purple speculum. 
The head is lighter, the cheeks 
being a streaky buff. There is 
no decided white except under 
the wings, but there are buffy 
margins to most of the feath- 
ers. This is more common along 
the coasts 
than the last, and can always be sepa- 
rated from the female of that species 
by the lack of white border to the spec 
ulum. In habits and voice it is like 
the mallard. (Dusky Duck.) 

Length, 22 ; wing, 1 1 
(10-11 A); tail, 3i; tar- 
sus, If ; culmen, 2^. 
Eastern North America 
west to the Mississippi 
Valley ; breeding from 
New Jersey and Illinois 
to Labrador, and win- 
tering from the Middle 
States to Cuba. 

31. Florida Duck 
(134. Anas fulvigula). 




Mallard 




Black Duck 



FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



299 



In habits, voice, and coloring this species is similar to the 
black duck, but more buffy;* sides of head and whole throat 
buffy without streaks ; the speculum is greenish-purple. 

Length, 20; wing, 101; tail, 3i; tarsus, If; culmen, 2. Florida. 
The Mottled Duck (134 a . A. f. maculosa) of Texas to Kansas differs 
from the Florida duck in having the buffy cheeks streaked with brown 
and the rest of the plumage more mottled. 

32. Gadwall (135. Anas strepera). — A buffy-headed, mottled- 
gray-bodied duck, with middle wing coverts chestnut, greater 
wing coverts black, speculum white, and belly 
nearly white. The breast and neck have a scaled 
appearance, because of the white edges and 
centers of the feathers. Female mottled 
browns with a nearly white speculum 
and white belly ; there is almost 
no chestnut on the winj 
coverts ; the axillars 
and under wing coverts 
are pure white. This 
is a common species in 
the interior, but rare 
north of Virginia on the 
coast. (Gray Duck.) 

Length, 20 ; wing, 101 




G-adwall 



(10-11); tail, 4i ; tarsus, If; culmen, If. 
Northern hemisphere; breeding in America^ from Kansas and Gulf of 
St. Lawrence northward, and wintering from 
Virginia south to Florida and Texas. 

V 

33. Widgeon (136. Anas penelope). — A 
rare duck from the Old AVorld, with the 
head and throat reddish-brown except a 
whitish crown and blackish throat; the 
sides and back covered with many black 
lines, and the lower breast and belly 
white. The female is like the female of 
but the head and throat are a decided 




the 



Widgeon 
next species, 



brown and the greater wing coverts brownish-gray. 



300 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Baldpat 



Length, 19; wing, 10| (10-11); tail, 4; tarsus, 1^ ; culmen, If. 
Northern parts of the Old World, occurring occasionally in the eastern 
United States. 

34. Baldpate (137. Anas americana). — A brownish-backed, 
reddish-breasted, white-bellied duck with a speckled, light-col- 
ored, mainly buffy head and neck. 
From the eye backward on the side of 
the head there is a glossy green patch 
and the crown is almost white. The 
wing coverts are largely w r hite, the spec- 
ulum green with a black border, and 
the under tail coverts abruptly black. 
The female has a light, speckled, buffy 
head and neck similar to the male, but 
it lacks the white crown and the green 
eye patch. The great amount of white on the wing coverts 
and belly distinguishes this from other ducks. This duck 
ranks high among sportsmen on account of the delicacy of the 
flesh. It feeds upon the same " wild celery " as the canvas- 
back, but it cannot dive, so it watches the diving ducks and 
filches their prey the 
moment their heads 
appear. (American 
Widgeon.) 

Length, 20 ; wing, lOf 
(10-11); tail, 41; tarsus, 
11; culmen, 1|. North 
America; breeding main- 
ly north of the United 
States, and wintering 
from Virginia to north- 
ern South America. 



35. Green - winged 
Teal (139. Anas caro- 
linensis). — A very 




Green-winged Teal 



small, common, chestnut-headed, wavy-lined, gray duck, with 
shining green patch on the side of the head, a green speculum 



FAM. L. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



301 



on wing, and a white crescent on the side of body in front of the 
wing. Female is principally buff and dark browns, blotched on 
the body and speckled on the head and neck. The wing mark- 
ings are about the same as those of the male. 

Length, 14 ; wing, 7 (64-7^) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1\ ; culmen, 1^. North 
America ; breeding chiefly north of the United States, and wintering from 
Virginia to Kansas and south to Central America. The European Teal 
(138. Anas crecca) is so nearly like the last that the female cannot be 
distinguished, but the male lacks the white crescent in front of the wing. 
Old World, occasionally found in eastern North America. 

36. Blue-winged Teal (140. Anas discors). — A small, com- 
mon, black-headed, spotted, brown-bodied duck, with a bright 
patch of light blue on the 
wing coverts and a white 
crescent on the side of the 
head in front of the eye. 
The speculum is dark green. 
The female (also the male 
in summer) has the wings 
nearl}- as above given, but 
the head is very different, 
being blackish and bufTy 
spotted or dotted, and the 
throat is about white. These 
birds fly in small dense 
flocks. 




Length, loi ; wing, 7i(7-7|) ; 
tail, 3^; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, lf- 
lf. North America, more abun- 
dant eastward ; breeding from 
Kansas and Illinois northward, and wintering from Virginia south to 
northern South America. 



Blue-winged Teal 



37. Cinnamon Teal (141. Anas cyandptera). — A duck simi- 
lar to the last, but the male has a richer and more glossy 
chestnut color below. The female (also the male in summer) 
has the plumage darker and only a small portion of the upper 
throat unstreaked. The belly is usually heavily spotted and 



302 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Cinnamon Teal 



the breast deeply tinged with light brown. The bill of this 
species is larger than that of No. 36, the cnlmen ranging from 
If to If 

Length, 161 . w i ng) 71 ( 7 i_ 8 ) ; tail, 3% ; 
tarsus, li ; culmen, lf-lf . Western America 
east to the Rocky Mountains and south to 
Patagonia. Casual eastward, Illinois, Florida. 

38. Shoveller (142. Spdtula clypeata). 
— A large, broad-billed, bright-colored, 
white-breasted, chestnut-brown-bellied, 
dark-headed duck with blue wing cov- 
erts and green speculum. The bill is 
spoon-shaped, being nearly twice as wide 
near the tip as at the base. The female 
is mainly dark-brown blotched on a buff ground ; the middle 
of the belly is lightest and the back darkest. The wings are 
much like those of the male. The large, spoon-shaped bill 
distinguishes the species. (Broad-bill ; Spoon- 
bill Duck.) 

Length, 17-21 ; wing, 9$ (9-10) ; tail, 3 
sus, li ; culmen, 2f. Northern hemisphere 
breeding in America from Texas to 
Alaska, and wintering from 
New Jersey and southern 
Illinois to northern 
South America. Not 
abundant on the coast 
north of the Carolinas. 

39. Pintail (143. 
Ddfila acuta). — A 
sharp-tailed, dark- 
brown-headed, wavy- 
gray - backed duck, 
with a long neck, having a white stripe on the side and a 
black line above. The speculum is greenish-purple, usually 
bordered by black and white. The breast and belly are white, 
with the sides strongly marked with wavy black lines; the 




Shovellei 



FAM. L. BUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



303 




Pintail 



central tail feathers are much, lengthened and glossed with 
green. The female has a streaky blackish and buffy head, 
whitish throat, dark 
buffy breast, spotted 
with blackish, and 
very much spotted 
and barred sides and 
back. The sides and 
back have many 
whitish, crescent- 
shaped marks. The 
speculum is grayish- 
brown bordered with 
white. The central 
tail feathers are 

broad with acute points ; the under wing coverts are dusky. 
The male in summer is somewhat like the female in coloring, 
except the wings. (Sprigtail.) 

Length, 21-30 ; wing, 10| (91-11^); tail, male 9, female 4 ; tarsus, If; 
culmen, 2. Northern hemisphere. In North America breeding from 
Iowa to the Arctic Ocean, and wintering from Virginia southward. 

40. Wood Duck 

(144. Aixspdnsa). — A 
common, distinctly 
crested, brilliantly 
colored, woodland-liv- 
ing duck, with greens, 
blues, buffs, browns, 
blacks, and whites in 
the plumage. Any 
more elaborate de- 
scription of this very 
beautiful duck would 
be useless ; it must be 
seen to be appreci- 
Wood Duck ated. The female is a 




w 



304 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



slightly crested, somewhat iridescent, grayish and slaty-brown 
duck, with lower breast streaked with buff ; the throat is white 
and there is a white stripe from the eye backward ; the head 
is purplish-brown on the crown, and ashy-brown on the sides. 
The forest-bordered fresh waters form the home for this bird, and 
a hole in tree or stump its nesting quarters. (Summer Duck.) 

Length, 18| ; wing, 9 ; tail, 4£ ; tarsus, If ; culmen, If. Temperate 
North America ; breeding from Florida to Hudson Bay, and wintering 
from the Middle States to Mexico. 



FISH DUCKS (SUBFAMILY MERGlN^E) 

Characteristics given on p. 278 

Key to the Species 

Wing, 9i-ll£ long; frontal feathers extending beyond those on the 
side of the bill 41. American Merganser. 

Wing, 8i-9i long ; frontal feathers not extending beyond those on the 
side of the bill 42. Red-breasted Merganser. 

Wing, 7-8^ long ; crest on head high and flattened sideways 

..43. Hooded Merganser. 

41. American Mer- 
ganser (129. Mergdn- 
ser americdn us) . — A 
slightly crested, slen- 
der-billed, dark-green- 
headed, fish duck, 
with the back and 
wings black and 
white, the tail gray, 
and the under parts, 
including breast, buffy 
white. The female is 
reddish-brown-headed, 
- gray-backed and whit- 
ish-bellied, with a 
white patch on throat, 
and white speculum. 

American Merganser The head Color ex- 




FAM. L. BUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



305 




Keel-breasted Merganser 



tends farther down the neck in this species than in the 
next, and the distance from the nostril to end of bill is less, 
being in this species 1^ inches, in the next If. These fish- 
eating dncks inhabit both fresh and salt waters, are great 
divers, and can pnrsne and catch their food while under the 
surface. (Goosan- 
der; Shelldrake; 
Sawbill.) 

Length, 25 ; wing, 
10| (91-111); tail, 5; 
tarsus, 1| ; oilmen, 2. 
North America ; breed- 
ing from Pennsylvania 
and Colorado north- 
ward, and wintering 
from Maine, Illinois, 
and Kansas southward. 

42. Red -breasted 
Merganser (130. Mer- 

gdnser serrcitor). — A common, crested, dark-green-headed, red- 
dish-breasted, fish duck, with the back made up of white, black, 
and gray. The reddish breast is streaked with blackish, the 
head and neck are green-glossed, and the rump and sides barred 
with black and white. The female has the head and upper 
neck cinnamon-brown, the back gray, and the breast and belly 
white. The speculum is white, and the throat "whitish. 

Length, 23 ; wing, 9 (8|-9i) ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 1| ; culmen, 2f. North- 
ern portion of northern hemisphere ; breeding in America from the 
northern border of the United States northward, and wintering through- 
out most of the United States. 

43. Hooded Merganser (131. Lopliddytes cucullcitus). — A small, 
strongly crested, fish duck, with black and white head, black 
back, white belly, and cinnamon-red sides. The head and 
neck are black except a large, central, fan-shaped part of the 
very flat, high chest, which is white. The black and white of 
the lower neck and breast are so arranged as to give the appear- 
ance of two white collars, wide and touching in front, narrow 

apgar's birds. — 20 



306 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Hooded Merganser 



and widely separated behind. 
The female is smaller, has a 
smaller, rusty -brown crest 
and a grayish-brown back, 
with nearly white belly and 
grayish breast. The other 
fish ducks prefer running, 
dashing waters, this one the 
quiet pools and lakes ; the 
others are "fishy," but this 
is palatable. 

Length, 18; wing, 7| (7-8); 
tail, 4 ; tarsus, \\ ; culm en, 1£. 
North America, south to Mex- 
ico and Cuba ; breeding mainly- 
through out, and wintering in most 
sections of the United States. 



ORDER XIV. TOTIPALMATB SWIMMERS 
(STEGANOPODES) 

An order of swimming birds with the four toes connected 
by webbing ; nostrils small or none ; bill without lamellae ; 
throat usually furnished with a pouch. 

FAMILY LI. MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS (FREGAtID^) 

A very small family (2 species) of very large, marine birds 
of tropical seas, with long, forked tails, and unexcelled length 
of wing. They surpass all other birds in their power of flight, 
and are found hundreds of miles from shore, apparently inde- 
pendent of solid earth. They poise for hours on motionless 
wings, facing the wind, sometimes at great heights, above the 
storms. Their legs are so small and weak that they can 
scarcely swim or walk, and they cannot dive. They obtain 
all their food while on the wing, gracefully darting beneath 
the surface of the water for fish, or often capturing those 
which, chased by enemies below, leap for a moment into the 



FAM. LI. MAN-O-WAR BIRDS 



307 



air. They often pursue and steal the captured food of gulls, 
terns, and other birds. 

1. Man-o'-War Bird (128. Fregata dquila). — A tropical, 
large, long-winged, black, ocean bird, with long, deeply forked 
tail. The female is a 
dark brown bird with 
the breast and upper 
belly white. The 
young is like the fe- 
male, but also has the 
head and neck white. 
This bird spends most 
of its time on the 
wing, and usually over 
the water. It is a 
kind of sea buzzard. 

The man-o'-war birds nest together in thousands in low bushes 
near the coast. 

Length, 40 ; wing, 25 (22-27) ; tail, 18 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, 4f. Tropi- 
cal and subtropical coasts. In America, north to Florida and Texas, and 
casually to Ohio, Kansas, Nova Scotia, etc. 




Man-o'-War Bird 



FAMILY LIL PELICANS (PELECANID^) 

A small family (12 species) of very large, short-tailed birds, 
with very long, peculiarly pouched bills, the pouch being used 
like a dip net for catching its fishy food. Under the skin there 
are great air sacs like those of the gannets. This makes them 
peculiarly buoyant on the water, and gives them great grace of 
movement. In the air, also, their movements are easy and 
strong, but not very rapid. They give a few flaps of the wings, 
then sail a short distance, then again give a few flaps of the 
wings. They are usually in flocks, and it is interesting to 
see the alternate flapping and sailing of the whole as though 
directed by a leader. These birds nest in large colonies, and 
are found in all the warmer parts of the world. Some are 
exclusively marine, and some are found far from the coast. 



308 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




Key to the Species 

* Tarsus over 3i ; plumage mainly white. . .1. American White Pelican, 

* Tarsus under 3| ; plumage with much brown 2. Brown Pelican. 

1. American White 
Pelican (125. Pelechr 
nus erythrorhynclios). 
— An exceedingly- 
large, white, swim- 
ming bird, with, a very 
long, pouched bill 
and black primaries. 
The young is similar, 
but w r itli some brown- 
ish-gray on the top 
of the head. In the 
breeding season, there 

is a peculiar crest on 
American White Pelican the bm> TMs gpe _ 

cies procures its food mainly by swimming and dipping ; the 
next by darting from the air 
into the water. This species is 
found both along the coast and 
in the center of the continent 
a thousand miles from salt 
water ; the next is almost ex- 
clusively marine. 

Length, 60 ; wing, 22 (20-25) ; 
tail, 6; tarsus, 4| ; culmen, 11-15. 
North America, rare or accidental on 
the Atlantic coast, common on the 
Pacific ; breeding from Minnesota 
northward far into the British pos- 
sessions, and wintering from the 
Gulf coast to Central America. 

2. Brown Pelican (126. Pele- 
cdbnus fuscus). — This is a bird 
similar to the last, but smaller. 




Brown Pelican 



FAM. LIIL CORMORANTS 309 

It is a yellow-headed, gray-backed pelican, with, blackish- 
brown lower parts. In breeding plumage, there is a seal brown 
stripe along the whole of the back neck. During the rest of 
the year the whole neck is whitish. These birds fly low over 
the water, just beyond the breakers, usually in small flocks. 
They only casually stray into the interior. 

Length, 50; wing, 19 (18-21) ; tail, 61; tarsus, 2f ; culmen, 9±-l 2± 
Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical America, North Carolina ; 
accidental in Illinois. 



. FAMILY LIII. CORMORANTS (PHALACROCORACID^) 

A family (30 species) of large, generally distributed, mainly 
salt-water birds, though occasionally found along the shores of 
fresh-water lakes. They are long-necked, large-tailed, short- 
legged, hooked-billed birds, which when standing are forced to 
take nearly an erect position and make use of the tail as a 
partial support. They pursue their prey of fish by swimming 
under the water, and in doing this make use of their wings as 
well as feet, and are thus like the darters and auks. They 
dive from the surface of the water, instead of from the air like 
the gannets. 

Key to the Species 

* Wing, 13 or more long ; tail of 14 feathers ; pouch notched behind. . . . 
1. Cormorant. 

* Wing, 11-13 long ; tail of 12 feathers 2. Double-crested Cormorant. 

* Wing, 9-11 long ; tail of 12 feathers 3. Mexican Cormorant. 

1. Cormorant (119. Phalacrdcorax cdrbo). — A diving, ma- 
rine, narrow-billed, rounded-tailed, very dark-colored cormorant, 
with a white patch on the flanks. In the breeding season there 
is a large, white patch on the head back of the eye. The plum- 
age of the back and wings is bronzy, with more or less of 
iridescent colors. The young has much brown on the back, 
neck, and head, and the throat and breast are grayish-brown, 
changing to white on the belly. (Shag.) 



310 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 36 ; wing, 131 (121-14) ; tail, 1\ ; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, 2£-3. 
Coasts of the North Atlantic of both Old and New Worlds ; breeding 
from the Bay of Fundy northward, and wintering cas- 
ually south to the Carolinas. 

2. Double-crested Cormorant (120. Phalacrd- 
corax dilbphus). — A common, double-crested, 
black cormorant, with a greenish irides- 
cence to the feathers of the head, 
neck, and body, and coppery-gray 
to those of the back and wings. 
Bare skin on sides of the head, 
around the eyes orange (in life). 
There is a tuft of curling feath- 
ers on each side of the head, 
above the eyes, form- 
ing the "double crest." 
This is the " cormo- 
rant" of the Middle 
States. The young 
Cormorant has a white breast 

changing to gray on 
the throat, and black on the lower belly. It is like the last 
species in being much browner on the head, back neck, and 
upper back than is the adult. 

Length, 32; wing, 121 (12-13); tail, 6| ; tarsus, 2; culmen, 2-2£. 
Eastern North America ; breeding 
from the Bay of Fundy and Dakota 
northward, and wintering from Mary- 
land and southern Illinois southward. 
The Florida Cormorant (120 a . P. d. 
Jloridanus) is much like the last in 
color, but smaller. AVing, llf (\\\- 
12^). Common on the Gulf coast, 
South Atlantic and Gulf States, north 
to southern Illinois. 





Double-crested Cormorant 



3. Mexican Cormorant (121. Phalacrbcorax mexkHnus). — A 
small, southwestern cormorant with intense violet-purplish 
luster on the black of the body. The pouch on the neck is 



FAM. LIV. DABTERS 



311 



orange, with white edges. This species is found along the 

western Gulf coast and has been seen as far north as Kansas 

and southern Illinois. 

Length, 25 ; wing, 101 (10-101) ; tail, 6^ ; tarsus, If ; culmen, If. 
West Indies and Central America, to the southern United States. 

FAMILY LIV. DARTERS (ANHINGID^E) 
t 

A small, tropical family (4 species) of very long-necked, 
short-legged swimming birds of fresh-water swamps.' When 
alarmed, they have the habit, like the grebes, of sinking 
quietly backward into the water and swimming to a safe place, 
keeping only the head and neck above the surface. When in 
this position, they present the appearance of water-snakes, 
whence they derive one of their common names. Even when 
perching on limbs of trees above the water, they can, when 
disturbed, drop into and sink noiselessly under the water, 
making hardly a rip- 
ple on the surface. MMWWFF ' ' '" 
They resemble the 
cormorants in appear- 
ance, and like them 
and the auks, they use 
their wungs in swim- 
ming under water. 

1. Anhinga (118. 
Anhinga anhinga). — 
A southern, very 
long-necked, slender- 
billed, short-legged, 
swimming and diving 
bird; glossy, greenish- 
black, with grayish 
wings and tail. The 
wing coverts and 
shoulders are much 
dotted and blotched Anhinga 




312 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



with white, and the rounded tail is tipped with whitish. The 
female is similar but has the head, neck, and breast brownish. 
A common bird in the swamps of the Gulf States. (Snake-bird ; 
Water Turkey.) 

Length, 34 ; wing, 14 ; tail, 11 ; tarsus, 1£ ; culm en, 3^ Tropical and 
subtropical America, north to North Carolina and Kansas. 



FAMILY LV. GANNETS (StLIDJE) 

A small family (8 species) of large, heavy, sea-birds, which, 
except when migrating, are never found far from land. In 
their movements through the air they alternate their napping 
with short periods of sailing. They are large-bodied birds, 

but have such exten- 
sive air cavities under 
the skin as to render 
them very light on 
the water ; thus they 
swim with great ease. 
Associated in small 
flocks, these birds fly 
with outstretched 
neck, usually at some 
height above the 
waves, and, when a 
fish is seen, close the 
wings and shoot down- 
ward like an arrow 
to secure the prey. 

1. Booby (115. Sulci 
sulci). — A dark brown 
gannet, with white 
breast and belly. The head and neck are sometimes streaked 
with lighter brown and the breast is tinted with darker brown. 
The young has even the lower parts brownish, though not so 
dark as the back. An inhabitant of barren shores. 




Booby 



FAM. LVI. TROPIC BIRDS 



313 



Length, 30 ; wing, 15| (14-16£) ; tail, 8± ; tarsus, If ; culmen, 3f. 
Atlantic coast of tropical and subtropical America, north to Georgia in 
summer. 

2. Gannet (117. Sulci basstina). — A white gannet, with yel- 
lowish head and neck and nearly black primaries. Young, 
mottled grayish- 
brown above and 
white on the breast 
and belly, with gray- 
ish-brown edges to the 
feathers. The niot- 
tlings of the back con- 
sist of wedge-shaped 
white spots on the 
feathers. (Solon 
Goose.) 

Length, 36 ; wing, 19 
(17-21); tail, 10; tarsus, 
2 ; culmen, 4. Coasts of G-annet 

the North Atlantic ; 

breeding in America from Nova Scotia northward, and wintering from 
Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico. 




FAMILY LVI. TROPIC BIRDS (PHAETHOXTLLLE) 

A small family (3 species) of tropical, tern-like, marine 
birds, with peculiarly elongated central tail feathers. They 
are graceful birds, capable of strong, rapid flight ; sometimes 
they are seen far from the coast, though usually found near 
the shore. They live almost entirely on the wing, and catch 
their prey, which consists almost exclusively of fish, by drop- 
ping suddenly down upon it from the air. 

1. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird (112. PMethon Jfavirdstris).— 
An exceedingly long-tailed, long-winged, white sea-bird, with 
black on the outer quills and shoulder feathers of the wings. 
The shafts of the tail feathers are also black. Bill yellow and 
tail feathers tinged with salmon. The young lacks the elon- 



314 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



gated central tail 
feathers, and has 
the upper parts 
somewhat irregular- 
ly barred with black. 
The tail feathers are 
marked with a black 
spot near the tip. 

Yellow-billed Tropic Bird 

Length, 30 ; wing, 

11 ; tail, 20 or less ; culmen, 2\. West Indies to Central America, north 

to Florida and Bermuda, accidental in New York and Nova Scotia. 




ORDER XV. TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS (TUBI- 
NARES) 

An order of marine birds with tubular nostrils ; practically, 
as far as our own birds are concerned, consisting of but the 
following : 



FAMILY LVII. FULMARS, SHE AH WATERS, AND PETRELS 
(PROCELLARllD^E) 

This is a large family (70 species) of strong, swiftly flying 
birds, belonging strictly to the open ocean, and rarely seen 
near the shore except for breeding purposes. The fulmars 
and shearwaters are large birds, but some of the petrels are 
very small. The fulmars are much like gulls in appearance, 
but their method of flying is very different. They flap their 
wings more like owls, and in scudding they hold them very 
straight, at right angles with the body ; they sail close to the 
waves for great distances, apparently without moving their 
wings. The flight of the petrels is peculiarly light and airy, 
more like that of butterflies than like the flight of birds. They 
often gather in flocks around vessels at sea and follow them 
for miles. Though they spend most of the time near the sur- 
face of the water, they do not appear to swim, but are constantly 
on the wing, beating to and fro about the ship. The shear- 



FAM. LVII. FULMARS, SHEARWATERS, ETC. 315 



waters derive their name from their habit of strongly and 
swiftly "shearing the crests of the waves and skimming the 
billows with marvelous ease and without visible motion of the 
pinions." (Dr. Coues.) 

Key to the Species 

* Under mandible not hooked at tip ; l wing, 11-14 long 1. Fulmar. 

* Under mandible hooked at tip much like the upper, 2 or else with wings 

under 7 long. (A.) 

A. Wings, 4-7 long. (E.) 

A. Wings, 7-15 long. (B.) 

B. Wings, 13|-15 long ; culmen over 2 long 2. Cory's Shearwater. 

B. Wings, 11-131 long ; culmen, l£-2 long. (D.) 
B. Culmen under 1| long. (C.) 

C. Wing, 11-12 long 6. Black-capped Petrel. 

C. Wing, 7-10 long 4. Audubon's Shearwater. 

D. Under parts dusky 5. Sooty Shearwater. 

D. Under parts white 3. Greater Shearwater. 

E. Tail forked for over a half inch 3 8. Leach's Petrel. 

E. Tail square. (F.) 
F. Upper tail coverts white ; nails flat and obtuse 4 .. 9. Wilson's Petrel. 

F.' Upper tail coverts tipped with black ; nails hooked, acute 5 

7. Stormy Petrel. 

1. Fulmar (86. Fulmarus glacialis). Light phase. — A large 
w T hite bird with slaty-gray mantle and nearly black wing 
quills; the tail the 
color of the back. 
Dark phase. — A 
nearly uniform dark, 
slaty-gray bird. 
This bird is a con- 
stant attendant upon 
fishermen on their 
trips to the fishing 
banks, living upon 
the offal which is 




Fulmar 






316 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

thrown overboard and which they secure while swimming. 
The statements made in the general description about the 
position of the wings while scudding will enable one to distin- 
guish the fulmars from the gulls. (Noddy.) 

Length, 19; wing, 13 (12-14); tail, 4| ; tarsus, 2 ; culmen, 1|. North 
Atlantic, south in winter to Massachusetts, casually to New Jersey. The 
Lesser Fulmar (86 a . F. g. minor) is a similar bird, but much smaller. 
Wing, 12 ; culmen, If. The same distribution. 

2. Cory's Shearwater (88. Puffinus borealis). — A rare shear- 
water, with the wings and tail nearly black, the back some- 
what ashy, and the under parts white, with a slight grayish tint 
on the breast. The under tail coverts are white, mottled with 
grayish, and the sides of head and neck are somewhat lighter 
than the back ; bill yellowish. 

Length, 21; wing, 14 (13|-14|); tail, 6| ; tarsus, 21; culmen, 2\. 
Known only by specimens from off the coasts of Massachusetts south to 
Long Island. 

3. Greater Shearwater (89. Puffinus major). — A sooty-black 
or almost black-backed shearwater, with the under parts almost 

white ; shading from 
white on the breast 
to ashy-gray on the 
under tail coverts ; 
bill blackish. (Hag- 
don.) 

Length, 20 ; wing, 12| 
(11^-13); tail, 5f ; tar- 
Greater Shearwater sus > 2 t 5 culmen, If, At- 
lantic Ocean from Cape 
Horn to Cape of Good Hope, north to the Arctic Circle. 

4. Audubon's Shearwater (92. Puffinus auduboni). — A small 
shearwater, with all the upper parts from forehead to tail a 
sooty-black, and the under parts white. There is a patch of 
sooty on the flanks and under tail feathers, and some grayish 
on the sides of the breast. This bird is abundant and breeds 
in the West Indies. 




FAM. LVII. FULMARS, SHEARWATERS, ETC. 317 



Length, 11J; wing, 8 (7§-8i); tail, 



tarsus, 14 ; culmen, 



Warmer parts of the Atlantic, north casually to Long Island. The Manx 
Shearwater (90. Puffinus piiffimis) is much like the last, but larger. 
Length, 14 ; wing, 8^-9^ ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, If. A European 
species, accidental on the 
North American coast. 

5. Sooty Shearwater 
(94. Puffin us stric k- 
landf). — A sooty-black 
shearwater with the 
under parts somewhat 
grayer and the bill 
blackish. (Black Hag- 
don.) 

Length, 17 ; wing, llf 
(Hi— 12); tail, 4; tarsus, 




Sooty Shearwater 



migrating north in summer to South Carolina and northward. 

6. Black-capped Petrel (98. ^Estrelata Jiasitata). — A rare, 
southern, blackish-browm-backed petrel, with all lower parts 
and base of tail white. The otherwise white head is dis- 
tinctly capped with black and marked with a bar of black 

back of the eye. 
The tip of tail and 
the primaries are 
darker than the 
back. The young has 
the black of the 
head more or less 
connected and con- 
tinuous down the 
back neck. 

Black-capped Petrel 

Length, 15 ; wing, 

11| ; tail, 5 ; tarsus, If ; culmen, If. Warmer portions of the Atlantic 

Ocean, straying to different sections from Florida to Ontario. 

7. Stormy Petrel (104. ProcelUiria peldgica). — A very small, 
square-tailed, sooty-black petrel, with white upper tail coverts, 




318 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




having the longer feathers black tipped. The under tail 
coverts are mixed with whitish, and the bill and feet are black. 
The common stormy petrel of the Atlantic near 
Europe. 

Length, h\ ; wing, 4| (4|-5); tail, 1\ ; tarsus, \ ; 
culinen, \. Atlantic Ocean, south over the 
American side to the Newfoundland Banks. 

Leach's Petrel (106. Oceanddroma 
leucdrhoa). — A fork-tailed, sooty- 
brown petrel, with white up- 
per tail coverts and black 
bill and feet. The 
forking of the tail 
is over i inch. 

Length, 8 ; wing, 
61 (6-6$); tail, 3£ ; 
tarsus, | ; culmen, f. 
Stormy Petrel Northern oceans, 

south in America to 
California and Virginia ; breeding from Maine northward. 

9. Wilson's Petrel (109. Ocean)tes ocednicus). — A square- 
tailed, sooty-brown 
petrel, with white 
upper tail coverts 
and a white bar on 
the wings at the 
edge of the wing 
coverts. The webs 
of the feet are most- 
ly yellow, and the 
under tail coverts 
somewhat grayish. 
This is the common 
small petrel of the 
Atlantic Ocean, in 
our summer, its Leach's Petrel 




FAM. LVIII. ALBATBOSSES 



319 




Wilson's Petrel 



breeding time being the southern summer and its breeding 

home the southern 

seas. 

Length, 1\ ; wing, 6 
(5|-6i) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 
\\; culm en, J. North 
Atlantic ocean, and 
oceans of the south- 
ern hemisphere. The 
White - bellied Petrel 
(110. Cymddroma gral- 
laria) is a small, long- 
legged, blackish-gray 
petrel with the lower 
breast and belly abrupt- 
ly white. The upper tail coverts and the bases of all tail feathers, except 
the middle pair, are also white. Length, 8 ; wing, Q\ ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1^ ; 
culm en, |. Tropical oceans ; accidental on the coast of Florida. 

FAMILY LVIII. ALBATROSSES (DIOMEDEID^) 

The albatrosses are large ocean birds of the southern hemi- 
sphere, with very great 
expanse of wings and 
power of flight. These 
birds have rarely, if 
ever, been found on 
our eastern coasts ; 
four species visit our 
Pacific coast. They 
are rarely found near 
shore, being able, 
seemingly, to remain 
on the wung without 
ever tiring. Two rec- 
ords are given of two 

Wandering Albatross of the spe cies. 

1. The Wandering Albatross (80. 1. DiomMea exulans) is a 
large species of dusky to white color, according to age. 

Length, 50 ; wing, 28. Reported from the western coast of Florida. 




320 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



2. The Yellow-nosed Albatross (83. Thcdassdgeron culminatus) 
is a brownish-backed, white-bellied species. 

Length, 36; wing, 18; tail, 8| ; tarsus, 3^ ; culmen, 4f. Reported 
from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



ORDER XVI. LONG- WINGED SWIMMERS 

(LONGIPENNES) 

An order of swimming birds, with very long, pointed wings, 
open nostrils, and a small hind toe or none. These birds show 
great power of sustained flight as well as of swimming. 

FAMILY LIX. SKIMMERS (RYXCHOPID.E) 

A small family of but three similar, sea-skimming birds, 
one of which is found frequently on our southern coasts. 

1. Black Skimmer (80. Ri/nchops nigra). — A short-tailed, 
long-winged, short-legged, black-backed, white-bellied sea-bird, 

with a peculiar, 
long, knife-like bill. 
These birds skim 
over the surface of 
the water with the 
lower mandible so 
buried beneath the 
waves as to "plow 
the main" for their 
food, which consists 
of small sea animals. 
They feed chiefly 
during the dusk of the evening and at night ; during the day- 
time they are usually found resting on the sand bars. Their 
notes are very hoarse, somewhat resembling the croaking of 
some herons. 

Length, 18 ; wing, 15 (14-16) ; tail, 5 ; tarsus, 11 ; culmen, 2^-2f. 
Warmer parts of America ; breeding as far north as New Jersey, and 
wandering to the Bay of Fundy. 




Black Skimmer 



FAM. XX. TEENS AND GULLS 321 



FAMILY LX. TERNS AND GULLS (LARiD^) 

A large family (100 species) of birds, divided about equally 
between the two subfamilies. 

The Terns are noisy, shrill-voiced, nearly white, swallow-like 
birds, generally much smaller than the gulls. They have, usu- 
ally, notched or forked tails, while those of the gulls are even. 
The terns are almost entirely confined to the coasts; they 
are most abundant on islands and are numerous on the shores 
of fresh-water lakes. The gulls are less common except near 
salt water, and are generally found out at sea far from shore. 
Terns are readily distinguished from other birds when in the 
air, but it is almost impossible to determine the species with- 
out having them in hand. Terns can easily be separated from 
gulls by the position of the head while flying. Gulls hold 
their heads in line with the body, while terns hold theirs 
pointing downwards. 

Gulls are hoarse-voiced, large, long-winged, sea and shore 
birds, usually with square tails. They are good swimmers, 
spending much of their time on the water. In this they differ 
from the terns, which are much of the time on the wing. 
Gulls procure their food by gathering it from the surface 
of the water with their strongly hooked bills. Terns plunge 
downward into the water from the air, often disappearing 
beneath the surface. Gulls have a varied diet, — mammals, 
birds, eggs, and fish. Terns live mainly on fish, though some 
eat insects. The nests of both gulls and terns are almost 
always on the ground. 

Key to the Subfamilies 

* Bill more or less hooked, the culmen much curved near tip ; 1 tail about 
square (No. 25 has a forked tail with the outer feathers rounded at 
tip, white under parts, and wing over 10 long) ; colors 
generally white with a darker, usually grayish mantle on ® 
the hack (young birds have much mottled browns and 
white) .' Gulls, p. 328. i 

APGATl'S BIRDS. — 21 



322 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

* Bill not hooked ; culmen slightly but evenly curved from end to end ! 
(No. 1 is merely curved near tip 2 ) ; tail decidedly forked (No. 1 has 
a doubly-rounded tail ; the outer feathers are about 2 inches and 

the middle ones about \ inch shorter than the longest ones) . . , 

Terns, below. 



TERNS (SUBFAMILY STERNiN^E) 

Characteristics given on p. 321. 
Key to the Species 

* Tail doubly rounded, 3 the outer feathers about 2 inches, and the middle 

ones \ inch shorter than the longest ones 12. Noddy. 

* Tail decidedly forked. (A.) 

A. Tail with the outer feathers broad and rounded ; 4 front toes but 

little more than half webbed ; plumage dark 11. Black Tern. 

A. Tail with the outer feathers acutely pointed, and in most cases 
narrow; front toes well webbed ; 5 plumage light. (B.) 
B. Bill dark and stout, its depth at base over \ the length of the cul- 
men 2 1. Gull-billed Tern. 

B. Bill less stout, usually slender. (C.) 

C. Wing, 15 or more long ; tail forked for less than \ its length 

2. Caspian Tern. 

C. Wing, 14-15; tail forked for about \ its length 3. Royal Tern. 

C. Wing less than 13 long. (D.) 

D. Head decidedly crested ; wing, 11-13 long 4. Cabot's Tern. 

D. Head but little if at all crested. (E.) 

E. Wing under 7 long ; back pearl-gray 9. Least Tern. 

E. Wing, 10^-12^ long ; back sooty-black ; inner webs of quills dusky. 

10. Sooty Tern. 

E. Wing, 8-12 long ; back in adult pearl-gray. (F.) 

F. Outer tail feathers with the inner web dusky, outer web white 

5. Forster's Tern. 

F. Outer tail feathers with both webs white 8. Roseate Tern. 

F. Outer tail feathers with inner web white, outer web dusky. (G.) 
G. Bill red with a blackened tip ; tail but little more than \ the length 

of the wing 6. Common Tern. 

G. Bill red throughout ; tail over f the length of the wing 

7. Arctic Tern. 






FAM. LX. TERNS AND GULLS 



323 




•-*9* " 



Gull-billed Tern 



1. Gull-billed Tern (63. GelocheTidon nildtica). — A southern, 
black-capped, black-billed, black-footed tern, with the upper 
parts, including the wings, a light pearl-gray, and the lower 
parts white ; tail 
forked 1\ inches, 
nearly white. In 
winter, this, like 
most terns, loses its 
blackcap; the crown 
is white, space in 
front of eyes black- 
ish, and back of 
them grayish. A common tern on the southern coast, feeding 
extensively on insects. The voice has a harshness similar to 
that of the gulls. (Marsh Tern.) 

Length, 14; wing 12 (llf-12i); tail, 5| ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, If. 
Nearly throughout the world, in North America chiefly along the Atlantic 
and Gulf coasts ; breeding north to New Jersey, and wandering casually 
to Massachusetts. 

2. Caspian Tern (64. Sterna tschegrava). — Avery large, red- 
billed ternj with the back of the neck, tail, and under parts 
white, back and wings pearl-gray, and the primaries slaty- 
black, with silvery outer webs. In spring, it has a black cap, 
but after the breeding season and in winter, the top of the 
head is merely streaked with black. The young has the pearl- 
gray back, and tail spotted or barred with brownish-black, and 
the head streaked black and white. This is a tern of world- 
wide distribution, but is not common in North America. It is 
in appearance, when seen on the wing, almost identical with 
the next. 

Length, 21; wing, 16 (15-17|); tail, 6, forked, li; tarsus, If; cul- 
men, 2^-3|-. In North America, breeding locally from Virginia, the Great 
Lakes, and Texas northward ; migrating through the interior as well as 
along the coast, and probably wintering beyond our borders. 

3. Royal Tern (65. Sterna mdxima). — A very large, some- 
what crested tern, w T ith the back and wings pearl-gray, the 



324 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

outer web and tips of primaries blackish, and the rest of the 
plumage white. In the breeding season, there is a black cap, 
but during the rest of the year the head is streaked black and 
white. This is much like the last species, but in all ages and 
seasons, the royal tern can be distinguished by the inner web of 
the primaries which is white, at least on the inner half. This 
is a common, strong, and powerful tern of the southern coasts, 
and is nearly as large as any gull ; so the student may distin- 
guish the gulls from the terns by noting the difference in the 
position of the heads of the species when in flight. The gull's 
head is in line with the body, the tern's points toward the earth. 

Length, 19; "wing, lih (14-15); tail, 7, forked, 3^; tarsus, If; cul- 
men, 2| ; America, chiefly tropical ; breeding north to Virginia ; wander- 
ing to Massachusetts and the Great Lakes, and wintering from the Gulf 
coast southward. 

4. Cabot's Tern (67. Sterna sandvicensis acufldvida). — A 
southern, crested, pearl-gray-backed, white-bellied tern, with a 

large, yellow-tipped, black 
bill, and black feet. In the 
breeding season, the whole 
top of the head and crest 
is black, but during the rest 

Cabot's Tern ° f tlie ^ ear the CT0Wn is 

. white, somewhat spotted 

with black, and the crest black streaked with white. The 
young has the pearl-gray back spotted with blackish, the slaty- 
gray tail short, and the bill nearly all black. (Sandwich Tern.) 

Length, 15 ; wing, 12| ; tail, 6, forked over 2 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, 2\. 
America, chiefly tropical ; breeding along the Gulf coast, and along the 
Atlantic north to South Carolina ; wandering north to New England, and 
wintering from Key West to Central America. 

5. Forster's Tern (69. Sterna fbrsteri). — A medium-sized 
tern, with wings and back pearl-gray, rump and all under parts 
white, and bill blackish at tip and dull orange at base. The 
tail is light colored, and the inner w r ebs of the tail feathers are 
always darker than the outer ones. In summer, the wdiole top 




FAM. LX. TEENS AXD GULLS 



325 



of the head is black, but in winter the crown is white spotted 
with black, and the side of the head is marked with a large 
black spot surrounding the eye. The young has a mottled back 
and short tail. 

Length, 15 ; wing, 10 (9i-10|) ; tail, 5-8, forked, 2-5 ; tarsus, | ; cul- 
men, If. Xorth America ; breeding north to Virginia, Illinois, Manitoba, 
and California ; wandering to Massachusetts, and wintering south to 
Brazil. The Trudeau's Tern (Q8. Sterna trudeaui) of southern South 
America has been seen a few times in the eastern United States. It is a 
pale, pearl-gray tern, with the head and under surface of wings white, and 
tail and rump lighter than the body. A narrow bar of slate color begins in 
front of the eye, passes through it, and curves downward toward the back 
of the head. Length, 16 ; wing, 10^ ; tail, 4i-6| ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, 1£. 

6. Common Tern (70. Sterna hinindo). — A pearl-gray-backed, 
white-throated tern, with a pale, pearl-gray breast and belly, and 
a deeply forked tail. In summer, 
the whole top of the head is 
black, and the bill is red except 
the end third, which is black; 
but in winter, the front part 
of the head is white, the bill 
mainly black, and even the un- 
der parts change from pearl-gray 
to white. The outer webs of the 
outer tail feathers are gray, and 
the inner webs white. The young 
is somewhat mottled, and has a 
short tail. On the islands of our 
coast this tern w~as a very com- 
mon bird, until fashion de- 
manded it as an ornament for 
ladies' hats ; at present it is out 
of fashion, but the bird has become 
Swallow ; Wilson's Tern.) 

Length, 11| ; wing, 101 (9f-llf) ; tail. 6, forked, 3± ; tarsus, , 
men, If. Northern hemisphere ; in North America, mainly east of the 
Plains ; breeding from Florida and Texas to the Arctic coast, and winter- 
ing from Virginia southward. 




Common Tern 

almost extinct. 



(Sea 



cul- 



326 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

7. Arctic Tern (71. Sterna paradiscea). — This is almost 
exactly like the last, but the tail is somewhat larger, and the 
bill decidedly redder. Mr. Brewster says the usual cry of the 
Arctic tern is shriller and more pig-like. 

Length, 15| ; wing, 10-11; tail, 6— 8|, forked, 4| ; tarsus, f; culraen, 
1^. Northern hemisphere ; breeding from Massachusetts northward, and 
wintering south to Virginia and California. 

8. Roseate Tern (72. Sterna dougalli). — A rare, black-billed, 
white-tailed tern, with back and wings pearl-gray, and the white 
under parts often delicately pink-tinted. The bill is slightly 
reddish at base, especially in young birds. In summer, the 
whole top of the head is black, but in winter, the front of the 
head is white with black streaking; the under parts in winter 
are pure white. Mr. Chapman says this species "is a less 
excitable, wilder bird than hirundo [No. 6.], and its single harsh 
note, cack, may be distinctly heard above the uproar of common 
terns, as it hovers somewhat in the background." 

Length, 15£ ; wing, 9£ (9£-9f ) ; tail, 7|, forked 4 ; tarsus, f ; culmen, 
1|. Tropical regions generally ; breeding north on the Atlantic coast, 
rarely to Maine, and wintering south of the United States. 

9. Least Tern (74. Sterna antillarum). — A very small, rare 
tern, with the back, wings, and tail pearl-gray, the under 

parts white, the forehead white, and the 
bill mainly yellow. There is a black cap 
extending forward past the eyes, and the 
outer webs of the outer primaries are 
4 black. The young is somewhat mottled 
and has a blackish bill. 

Length, 9 ; wing, 6f ; tail, 3|, forked, nearly 
2; tarsus, f ; culmen, 1£. Northern South America, and north to New 
England, Minnesota, and California ; breeding mainly throughout. Cas- 
ual to Labrador. 

10. Sooty Tern (75. Sterna fuliginosa). — A large tern, with 
nearly all the upper surface black, and the lower surface 
white. The tail is deeply forked, and the bill and feet are 




FAM. IX TERNS AND GULLS 



327 




black. The outer tail 
feathers are white, 
with brownish on the 
terminal half of the 
inner web. 

Length, 16 ; wing, 12 ; 
tail, 1\, forked, Z\ ; tar- 
sus, 1; culmen, If. Trop- 
ical regions generally ; 
breeding in North Amer- 
ica rarely north to North Soot y Tern 
Carolina ; wandering to New England, and wintering south of the 
United States. The Bridled Tern (76. Sterna ancethetus) has the 

two outer tail feathers 
wholly white. It is a 
tropical tern ; casual in 
Florida. Wing, 10* ; 
tail, 6^ ; tarsus, | ; cul- 
men, 1^. 

11. Black Tern (77. 
Hydrochelidon nigra 

surinamensis). — A 
small, short - tailed, 
black tern, with the 
back, wings, and tail somewhat lighter and more slate colored, 
and the under tail coverts white. The young (also the adult 
in winter) has the front head and under parts mainly white, 
and the back and 
wings pearl-gray. 
This is an insect- 
eating bird, and is 
often found far 
from large bodies 
of water, and oc- 
casionally on the 
driest of open 
plains. 




Bridled Tern 




Length, 10 ; wing, 8i ; tail, 3f, forked, 



Black Tern 
culmen, 1. 



America, from 



328 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Alaska to Brazil ; breeding in the interior from Illinois to Alaska, and 
migrating through all parts of the eastern United States. 

12. Noddy (79. Anous stdlklus). — A southern, dark brown, 
almost black tern, with a whitish crown and a rounded tail. 

The young lacks the 
, whitish crown, but 
has more or less of a 
white line over the 
e} T e. This is a com- 
mon summer visitor 
in the South Atlantic 
and Gulf States, and 
Noddy breeds in Florida. 

Length, 15 ; wing, 10J (10-10f ) ; tail, 6 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, If. 
Tropical regions generally ; in America from Brazil to the southern 
United States. 




GULLS (SUBFAMILY LARIN^E) 

Characteristics given on p. 321 
Key to the Species 

* Hind toe minute or wanting (much less than \ inch long) ; tail slightly 

notched or even 14. Kittiwake. 

* Hind toe small. (A.) 

A. Tail forked about 1 inch ; tail feathers rounded at tip 

24. Sabine's Gull. 

A. Tail even. (B.) 
B. Adults pure white ; tarsus rough behind and less than the middle toe 

and nail in length ; wing, 13-14 long 13. Ivory Gull. 

B. Adults with a darker mantle ; tarsus not very rough, and equal to or 
greater than the middle toe and nail in length. (C.) 
C. Wing, 8-91 long. The Little Gull (60-1. Larus minutus) of Europe 

has been found once on Long Island. ■ ^ 

C. Wing over 91 long. (D.) 

D. Wing, 10-10f long ; bill black and slender 23. Bonaparte's Gull. 

D. Wing, 10f-12 long ; bill red, with usually a dark band near tip 

22. Franklin's Gull. 

D. Wing, 12-13^ long ; outer primary black 21. Laughing Gull. 

D. Wing over 131 long. (E.) 
E. Primaries pearl-gray, fading to white at tip, no black. (H.) 



FAM. LX. TEENS AND GULLS 



329 



E. Primaries pearl-gray, tipped with white but having distinct gray- 
spaces on the outer webs 17. Kumlien's Gull. 

E. Primaries with white tips and dusky or black spaces near tips (in 
young sometimes all dark). (F.) 
F. Shafts of the primaries white through the dark spaces in adult ; wing, 

17-20 long ; back dark slaty -black 18. Great Black-backed Gull. 

F. Shafts dark like the spaces. (G. ) 

G. Wing, 15| or more long 19. Herring Gull. 

G. Wing less than 15f long 20. Ring-billed Gull. 

H. Wing over 16* long ; culmen over 2 15. Glaucous Gull. 

H. Wing under 16^ long ; culmen under 2 16. Iceland Gull. 

13. Ivory Gull (39. Gctvia dlba). — A large, rare, northern, 
pure white gull with 
black feet and yel- 
low bill. The yQiing 
has some gray patches 
on different parts of 
the body, but espe- 
cially at the tips of 
the tail feathers and 
primaries; sometimes 
the wing coverts have 
black spots at their 
tips. 

Length, 15-20 ; wing, 
13i ; tail, b\ ; tarsus, 1| ; 




Ivory Gull 



culmen, If. Arctic regions ; south in the Atlan- 
tic to about the border of the United States. 

34. Kittiwake (40. Rissa trkldctyla). — A three- 
^ toed, white gull, with pearl-gray mantle, black 
e outer primaries, yellowish bill, 
black feet. The hind toe is rep- 
resented by a little knob. The 
to the fifth primary 
have white tips be- 
yond the black. In 
winter the top of the 
head and the back of 
Kittiwake the neck are tinged 




330 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



with pearl-gray, but there is a darker spot around the eye. 
The young has the back of the neck and lesser wing coverts 
black. The name is derived from the bird's cry, kitti-aa, kitti-aa. 

Length, 17 ; wing, \2\ ; tail, 4| ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, 1£. Arctic re- 
gions, south in eastern America, in winter to the Great Lakes and the 
Middle States. 

15. Glaucous Gull (42. Lctrus glaiwus). — A very large, north- 
ern, nearly white gull, with yellow bill, a light pearl- 
gray mantle, and 
white tips ; no black 
anywhere in any 
plumage. Young 
much mottled ashy 
and buffy. (Burgo- 
master.) 

Length, 30 ; wing, 18 
(16£-18f) ; tail, 8 ; tar- 




G-laucous G-ull 
and south in winter to the Great Lakes and Lon 



Arctic regions ; breed- 
ing in America from 
Labrador northward, 
Island. 



16. Iceland Gull (43. L&rus leucdpterus). — A large, north- 
ern, almost white gull, much like the last in coloring, but in its 
movements and feeding more like the herring gull (No. 19). 
The mantle is pale pearl-gray, and there are no dark tips to 
the primaries. 

Length, 25; wing, 15| (14f-16,i) ; tail, 6| ; tarsus, 2\; culmen, If. 
Arctic regions ; south in winter to the Great Lakes and Long Island, 
sometimes still farther. 

17. Kumlien's Gull (45. IArus kumlieni). — Similar to the 
last two, but with the primaries distinctly marked with ashy- 
gray. The first primary has a white tip with ashy-gray outer 
web ; the second, with only a part of the outer web ashy-gray ; 
the third and fourth have little gray on the outer webs, but 
some on both webs near the tips. 



FA31. LX. TEBXS A2TD GULLS 



331 



Length, 24; wing, 16 (15-17); tail, 6|; tarsus, 



culmen, 1^ 



Atlantic coast of North America, south in winter to Massachusetts. 

18. Great Black-backed Gull (47. IArus mdrinus). — Avery 
large, very shy, black-mantled, white gull, with white tips to 
all the wing quills. 
The head and neck 
are streaked with 
grayish in winter. 
The young is much 
mottled with black, 
browns, buffs, and 
white. (Saddle-back.) 

Length, 30 ; wing, 18J 
(171-191) ; tail, 8; tarsus. 




3 ; culmen, 2|. North Atlantic ; breeding in 



America from the Bay of Fundy northward, and south in whiter to Long 
Island, and sometimes farther. 

19. American Herring Gull (51 a . Lcirus argentdtus smithsdni- 
anus). — A very common, large gull, with dark pearl-gray man- 
tle, and the head, tail, and lower parts white. The ends of the 

outer primaries are 
mainly black, but 
with round white 
spots near their 
tips. The adult in 
winter has grayish 
streaks on head and 
neck. The young is 
much mottled, ashy, 
black and buff. 
This gull is less ex- 
clusively marine 
than most others, as 
it is found on rivers 
and in harbors. It 
shows but little fear 

American Herring Gall of man - 




332 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 24 ; wing, 17^ (15£-17£) ; tail, 7| ; tarsus, 2| ; culmen, 2£. 
North America ; breeding from northern New York, Minnesota and 
northward, and wintering from Nova Scotia to Cuba. The European 
Herring Gull (51. Larus argentatus) is occasionally seen in eastern 
North America. It is somewhat smaller, and the black spot on the first 
primary is either broken or entirely absent. 

20. Ring-billed Gull (54. Lctrus delcucarensis). — A large, 
white-headed gull, with pearl-gray mantle, white belly, white 
tail ; the tips of the six outer primaries white, and back of the 
tip black for a less and less distance. The bill is greenish- 
yellow with a dark ring-like band in front of the nostril. The 
young is very much mottled, with blackish and grayish colors 
nearly everywhere. 

Length, 19; wing, 14f (13f-15f) ; tail, 6; tarsus, 2\ ; culmen, If. 
North America at large, more common in the interior ; breeding from 
Minnesota and Newfoundland northward, and wintering from Long 
Island to Mexico. 

21. Laughing Gull (58. Lctrus atriciUa). — A rather large, 

black-headed gull, 
with dark pearl - 
gray mantle, the 
lower neck, breast, 
belly, and tail 
white, and the pri- 
maries, except the 
small tips of the 
inner ones, black. 
In winter, the head 
and throat are 
white, with more or 
less of grayish tints. 
Its notes sound 
"like the odd and 




Laughing Gull 



excited laughter of an Indian squaw." (Black-headed Gull.) 

Length, 16^; wing, 13; tail, 5; tarsus, 2; culmen, If. Atlantic and 
Gulf coasts of the United States ; breeding from Texas to Maine, and 
wintering from South Carolina to northern South America. 



FAM. LX. TERNS AND GULLS 



333 



22. Franklin's Gull (59. Larus franklinii). — A western, 
small, black-headed gull, pearl-gray mantle, and the lower 
parts and the tail white. The whole head and throat are sooty- 
black, and the lower parts are often rosy tinted. The first 
primary is mainly white, but the outer web is black except at 
the tip ; the second has a black mark on the inner web, and 
a black strip on the outer web near the tip ; the third to the 
sixth are tipped with white. In winter, the head and neck 
are white. The young is- much marked with grays and browns. 
This gull is not found on the Atlantic coast. 

Length, 14; wing, 111; tail, 41 ; tarsus, If; culmen, \\. Interior 
North America, chiefly from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi 
River; hreeding from Iowa northward, and wintering from the Southern 
States to Peru. 



23. Bonaparte's Gull (60. Larus Philadelphia). — A small, 
black-billed, almost black-headed, white-tailed, white-bellied 
gull, with the wings and back pearl-gray and the first three 
primaries tipped with black, the next three with small, 
white tips and three large black spaces. In winter the 
head and throat are white. The young has the back varying 
from brownish to pearl-gray, the tail banded with black 
and white, and the 
head tinted with 
grayish. 

Length, 13 ; wing, 
101 • tail, 4 ; tarsus, 
If ; culmen, \\. North 
America generally; 
breeding mainly north 
of the United States, 
and wintering from the 
Middle States south- 
ward to the Gulf. 

24. Sabine's Gull 
(62. X&ma sabinii). 
— A very rare, northern, winter-visiting, small, tern-like gull, 
with a pure white, slightly forked tail. The head and neck 




Sabine's Gull 



334 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

in winter (the only season the bird is seen in the United 
States) mainly white, with a varying number of blackish marks 
on the back and sides of head ; back and wings dark pearl-gray ; 
under parts, except throat, white ; first primary black, with the 
inner half of the inner web white except at the tip; the next 
three tipped with white; the secondaries tipped with white. 
In summer the whole head and throat are slate-colored. 

Length, 13| ; wing, lOf (10f-llf); tail, 4|, forked, f; tarsus, l\\ 
culmen, 1. Arctic regions; south in winter-to New York, Great Lakes, 
and Great Salt Lakes : casual in Kansas and the Bahama Islands. 



FAMILY LXI. SKUAS AND JAEGERS (STERCORARtlD^E) 

A small family (6 species) of mainly dark-colored, rather 
long-tailed, long-winged, swift-flying, swimming birds, with 
the central tail feathers abruptly projecting beyond the others. 
These birds are hawk-like in the form of their bills l 
o 3^rx an d in their actions ; they chase the terns and smaller 
^^—^ gulls and snatch from them the fish and other prey 
1 which they have caught. Although good swimmers, 

they seem unable to dive. The bill has a large, cere-like cover- 
ing to the nostrils. 

Key to the Species 

* Wing over 15 long ; culmen over If ; tarsus, 2i-2f 1. Skua. 

* Wing, 131-15 long ; culmen under If; tarsus, lf-2f , 

2. Pomarine Jaeger. 

* Wing not over 13J long ; tarsus not over If ; central tail feathers acute. 

(A.) 

A. Scaly cere over the nostril more than half the length of the cul- 
men ; central tail feathers projecting less than 5 inches beyond 
the others 3. Parasitic Jaeger. 

A. Scaly cere less than half the length of the culmen ; central tail 

feathers in the adult projecting over 6 beyond the others 

4. Long-tailed Jaeger. 

1. Skua (35. MegaUstris skua). — A northern, large, stout- 
bodied, dark-brown sea-bird, with a nearly even tail having all 
feathers broad at tip; the under parts are somewhat lighter 
than the upper ones, and the neck is streaked with whitish. 



FAM. LXI. SKUAS AND JAEGERS 



335 




The shafts of the tail feathers, and the shafts and the basal 
portions of the inner vanes of the wing quills, are white. The 
young is some- 
what streaked 
with yellowish, 
especially about 
the head and 
neck. 

Length, 22; 
wing, 16(15f-16i); 
tail, 6 ; tarsus, 2f ; 
culmen, 2\. The 
coasts and islands 
of the North At- 
lantic, south in 
America to North 
Carolina, but very- 
rare. 

2. Pomarine Jaeger (36. Stercor&rius pomdrinus). — In usual 
or light phase, a large jaeger with cap, wings, back, and tail 
blackish-brown, back of neck yellow, and the lower parts white 

with many streaks and bars 
of brown, especially on the 
breast and sides. Dark 
phase. — A dark brown to 
black bird with the lower 
' ■ parts somewhat lighter, the 

bill dark greenish, and the feet black. The central projecting 

tail feathers have rounded tips. 

Length, 22; wing, 13| (13|-14); tail, 5*-9 ; tarsus, 2; culmen, If. 
Arctic regions ; south in winter to Africa, Australia, and probably South 
America. Found on inland waters as well 
as seas. 

3. Parasitic Jaeger (37. Stercorctrius 
parasiticus). — A smaller bird, but 
similar in coloring to the last, with 
the brown of the back not so black- I* 
ish. It occurs in a light and a dark phase 





The middle tail 



336 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 





feathers of this and the next species are pointed. The best 
method of distinguishing this species from the last is by the 
difference in size and the acute instead of rounded ends to 

- the central tail feathers. 

To separate it from the next 

compare the length of the 

horny covering to the nos- 

i I trils, with that of the top of 

bill or culmen; in this species it is always more than half; 

in the next, less than half. In the adult, the length of tail 

enables one to separate them. 

Length, 18; wing, 121 (H£_13£); tail, 5 (young), 8£ (adult) ; tarsus, 
If ; culmen, If. Northern regions ; breeding in high latitudes, and win- 
tering in America from New York and Cali- 
fornia to South America. Migrates through the 
Lake region as well as along the coasts. 

4. Long-tailed Jaeger (38. Stercor&rius 

longicaiidus). — This is another bird like 

the last two, having the same coloring and ' 3 

occurring in the light and dark phases. In the mature birds 

of this species, the central tail feathers are much longer. 

This bird, as stated 

above, has the horny 

ceje which covers 

the nostrils less than 

half as long as the 

culmen. In young 

birds before the full 

length of the tail is 

attained, the species 
Long-tailed Jaeger C{m be distinguisned 

only by noting the length of the cere. See the illustra- 
tion. 

Length, 22; wing, 12£ (111-13); tail, 6 (young), 11-15 (adult); tar- 
sus, If; culmen, 1^. Northern regions; breeding in high latitudes, and 
migrating mainly along the coasts to the Gulf of Mexico and the West 
Indies. 




FAM. LXII. AUKS, PUFFINS, ETC. 337 



ORDER XVII. DIVING BIRDS (PYG-OPODES) 

This is preeminently the order of water birds ; all species 
are at home only in the water, and all species swim and dive 
with perfect ease. The legs are situated at the tail end of the 
body ; so in attempting to stand, the birds hold the body in an 
erect position, and the tarsus and tail are often used as partial 
supports. These birds are very awkward in their movements 
on land, their method of progression being by a shuffling 
motion. 

FAMILY LXII. AUKS, PUFFINS, ETC. (ALCIDJE) 

A family (30 species) of short-necked, marine divers with 
peculiar, short bills and three full-webbed toes. The append- 
ages to the bill, which are numerous and remarkable, are shed 
after the breeding season, and so are practically never observed 
in the United States, as the nesting grounds are in the far 
north. These birds differ from the other divers in the use of 
their wings as an additional aid in swimming under water. 
They breed, often in immense colonies, in cold regions, and 
migrate southward in winter. Most species are strong flyers, 
and all are wonderful swimmers. All the species belong to the 
northern hemisphere, and more than half are found along the 
Pacific Ocean. They feed exclusively upon animal matter, 
and are mainly silent birds. 

Key to the Species 

* Bill light-colored, and more than an inch high at base. (F.) 

* Bill dark-colored, and less than an inch high at base. (A.) 

A. Culmen about £ inch long ; wing under 5^ long 8. Dovekie. 

A. Culmen, 1 or more long. (B.) 
B. Wing, 51-7^ long ; nostril overhung by a horny scale. (E.) 
B. Wing, 7^-9 long ; nostril more or less completely hidden by dense, 
velvety feathers. (C.) 
C. Tail of pointed feathers ; bill nearly an inch high at base and much 

flattened sideways 7. Razor-billed Auk. 

C. Tail of rounded feathers ; bill less than f inch high at base. (D.) 
apgar's birds. — 22 



338 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 




D. Culraen over If long .5. Murre. 

D. Culmen less than If long 6. Briinnich's Murre. 

E. Greater wing coverts wholly white 4. Mandt's Guillemot. 

E. Greater wing coverts black at base 3. Black Guillemot. 

F. Upper parts, including a band around throat, brownish-black ; belly 

white 2. Puffin. 

F. Upper parts a glossy blue-black ; belly grayish-brown ; head of the 
adult with crests of yellow feathers 1. Tufted Puffin. 

1. Tufted Puffin (12. Liinda cirrhcita). — A bird similar in 
form to the next, with, the upper parts a glossy blue-black and 

the lower ones grayish- 
brown. The head is fur- 
nished with two crests of 
Jt*Ma^ jA Ifet yellow, silky feathers above 

I 1 the eyes, and the face por- 
I m tlon °f the head * s white. 
Jjjjf^- Young lacks crests, white 
face, and the grooves of 

Tufted Puffin the bill. 

Length, 15 ; wing, 7f ; tail, 2f ; tarsus, 1^ ; culmen, 2f . North Pacific ; 
accidental on coast of Maine. 

2. Puffin (13. Fratercnla drctica). — A very stout-billed diver, 
with the upper parts, including a band around the neck, brown- 
ish-black, breast and belly w r hite, and the sides of the head 
grayish - w r hite. The 
bill in life, especially 
during the breeding 
season, is peculiarly 
ridged and of bright 
red, blue, and white 
colors. Breeding birds 
have a horny spine 
over the eye. (Sea- 
Parrot.) 

Length, 13 ; wing, 6^ 
(6-6f); tail, 21; tarsus, 1; 
culmen, 1£. North Atlan- Puffin 




FAM. LXII. AUKS, PUFFINS, ETC. 339 

tic, on coasts and islands ; breeding from the Bay of Fundy northward, 
also south to Long Island, and rarely farther south. 

3. Black Guillemot (27. Cepphus grylle). — In winter, a mot- 
tled, grayish-black-backed, white-bellied "sea pigeon," with 
sooty-black wings marked with a white blotch, formed by the 
terminal half of the greater w T ing coverts. The back has the 
feathers more or less tipped with white. In summer, it is 
a sooty -black bird, with the same white patch on the wings. 
These birds fly rapidly in a straight line just above the sur- 
face of the waves, but are usually found, in small 
flocks, swimming or diving in the water. 

Length, 13 ; wing, 6| (6-7) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, ~[\ 
culmen, \\. Northern Atlantic Ocean on both 
shores ; in America breeding from Maine to 
Newfoundland, and wintering south to Phila 
delphia. 

4. Mandt's Guillemot (28. 
Ceppli us m a ndt ii) . — Sim- 
ilar to the last in habits, 
size, and markings, but 
the white blotch on the 
wing is larger, including 
the bases as well as the 
tips of the greater wing 
COVerts. Mandt's Guillemot 

Length, 13 ; wing, 6J (5^-7^) ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, 11 ; culmen, 1\. Arctic 
regions ; in America breeding from Labrador northward, and wintering 
south to Massachusetts. 

5. Murre (30. Uria trdile). — An auk-like bird, with the upper 
parts from bill to tail a sooty-black and the lower parts white, 
excepting a brownish band across the lower neck in summer, 
which in winter is lacking. The head is more brownish and 
the back, wings, and tail are more blackish. There are white 
tips to the secondary quills, making a band across the wing. 
In winter the throat is somewhat tinted with brown and the 
belly marked with black. (Common Guillemot.) 




340 



KEF AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 17; wing 8 (7f-8J); tail, 2£; tarsus, 1J; culmen, If. Coasts 
and islands of the North Atlantic ; breeding from the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence northward, and wintering south to southern 
New England. 

6. Briinnich's Murre (31. Uria Ivmvia). — 
A bird similar to the last, but with a 
smaller and shorter bill and a slightly 
longer wing. In breeding plumage 
there is some difference of color, 
but in winter, when found in the 
waters off our eastern shores, 
the difference in length 
of bill is the distin- 
guishing mark. (Thick- 
billed Murre.) 

Length, 17 ; wing, 8£ 
(7£-8f) ; tail, 2{ ; tar- 
sus, \\ ; culmen, If. 
Coasts and islands of 
the North Atlantic ; 
breeding from the Gulf 
of St. Lawrence north- 
ward, and wintering 
south to New Jersey. 

7. Razor-billed Auk (32. Aka tarda). — A short, high, thin- 
billed auk, with the upper parts generally sooty-black, and the 
lower parts white. The 
black bill is crossed by a 
white band, there is a white 
line from the bill to the 
eye, and a line is formed 
on the wings by the white 
tips of the secondaries. The 
bill is flattened sidewise, 
whence the bird derives the 
name of razor-bill. It has 
the habit when on the water of turning its tail almost directly 
upward. (Tinker.) 




Murre 




1. Briinnich's Murre 



2, Murre 



FAM. LX11L LOONS 



341 



Length, 17 ; wing, 81 (7f-8|) ; tail, 3J; tarsus, 1\; culmen, \\. Coasts 
and islands of the North Atlantic ; in America breeding from Maine 
northward, and south in winter, casually to North Carolina. 

8. Dovekie (34. Alle dlle). — A small, short-billed, sooty- 
backed, white-bellied bird, with white tips to the secondaries, 
and some white streaks on the shoulders. The small wings of 





Razor-billed Auk 



Dovekie 



this bird are moved with almost bewildering rapidity, enabling 
it to fly with great swiftness. It swims with grace and ease, 
and dives, like all of the order, with great expertness. (Sea 
Dove; Little Auk.) 

-Length, 8i; wing, 4f (41-5); tail, 1| ; tarsus, £; culmen, i Coasts 
and islands of the North Atlantic ; in America breeding far north ; 
south in winter to New Jersey, accidental in Michigan. 



FAMILY LXIII. LOONS (URINATORID^) 

A small family (5 species) of large, heavy, long-necked, 
short-tailed, diving birds, with the legs situated at the tail end 



342 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



of the body. There are four toes, the three in front being full 
webbed. In summer, all' species when adult have the dark 

back regularly spotted with 
nearly square white blotches. 
They are all migratory, breed- 
ing, with one exception, in the 
Arctic regions, but found in 
the United States in winter. 
These birds, like all the div- 
ers, are exceedingly clumsy 
on land, which they seldom 
visit except for breeding pur- 




poses ; but in the water their 
powers of swimming and div- 
ing are only equaled by the 
grebes. They are also strong 
and rapid flyers. In their 
migrations, they keep at a 
considerable height and are 
usually seen in small flocks. 
In pursuit of fish, which forms their only food, they move 
through the water by the aid of their feet alone. In this 
they are like the grebes, but unlike the auks. 



Loon 



Key to the Species 

* Wing, 13-16 long ; tarsus, 3-8J; culmen, 2f-3£ 1. Loon. 

* Wing, 10-131; tarsus, 2J-S ; culmen, 2-2f (A.) 

A. Adult in summer, throat black ; adult in winter and young, no 

white spots on the back, but grayish margins to the feathers 

2. Black-throated Loon. 

A. Adult in summer, throat gray with a triangular, chestnut patch ; 

adult in winter and young, back distinctly spotted with white 

3. Red-throated Loon. 

1. Loon (7. Urinator imber). — Adult in summer, a very large, 
greenish-black-headed, black- throated loon, with the breast and 
belly white. The back and wings are greenish-black, with 
many nearly square, white spots. There are spaces on the 



FAM. LXI1I. LOOXS 



343 



sides of the neck and breast, streaked with white, and on the 

sides of the body and under the tail spotted with white. Adult 

in winter and young, a loon with all upper parts blackish, the 

feathers edged with grayish, but with no white spots ; all 

under parts white, with some grayish on the throat. Birds 

in the United States can be found with all grades of white 

spotting on the back. This 

is the only species of loon ^&Bi 

breeding in the states and 

thus the only one to be 

found at all seasons. 

Length, 28-36 ; wing, 13-151 . tarsus, 3-3^ ; culinen. 
2f-3^. Northern hemisphere ; "breeding from the north- 
ern range of states northward, and wintering south to 
the Gulf of Mexico and Lower California. 

2. Black-throated Loon (9. Urinator drcticus). 
— A bird similar to the last, but ranging much 
farther north. Adult in winter and young. 
having upper parts, including wings and tail 
with the feathers, blackish at their centers 
and grayish along their borders ; no white 
spots on the back. This is practically the winter appearance 
of the last, so the difference in size must be noted to determine 
the species. The absence of white spots separates it from 
the next. In summer the adult can be separated from the last 
by the ashy head, and from the next by the black throat and 

absence of chestnut color. 



Length, 26-29; wing, 12-131; tarsus, 
2| ; culinen, 2§-2|. Northern henii- 

, , sphere ; breeding north of the United 

States, and south in winter, casually to 

the northern states east of the Rocky Mountains. 

3. Red-throated Loon (11. Urinator lurrime). — 
This is the smallest of our loons. It is found in 
the Northern States from October to May, and 
irregularly south, in winter, to South Carolina. 




Black-throated Loon 




Red-throated 
Loon 



344 KEY AND DESCRIPTION 

In winter, this bird in all stages has the square white spots on 
the back. This separates it from the last species, and its 
much smaller size distinguishes it from the first. It derives 
its name from a triangular, chestnut spot on the neck. 

All our loons are wild, wary birds. The Pacific loons of the 
western coast are "tamer than any other water fowl I have 
seen. . . . They constantly swam around the vessels . . . and 
all their motions, both on and under the clear water, could be 
studied to as much advantage as if the birds had been placed in 
artificial tanks for the purpose. Now two or three would ride 
lightly over the surface with neck gracefully curved, propelled 
with idle strokes of their broad paddles . . . while their flash- 
ing eyes, first directed upward, then peering into the depths 
below, sought for some attractive morsel. In an instant, with 
a peculiar motion impossible to describe, they would disappear 
beneath the surface, and shoot with marvelous swiftness 
through the limpid element, transfix on their arrow-like bill an 
unlucky fish, and lightly rise to the surface again." (Dr. Coues.) 

Length, 24-27 ; wing, 10-1 1| ; tarsus, 2£ ; culmen, 2-2^. Northern 
hemisphere ; breeding from Manitoba and New Brunswick northward, 
and wintering south to South Carolina. 

FAMILY LXIV. GREBES (PODIClPID^E) 

A family (30 species) of fresh- and salt-water diving birds 
of general distribution throughout the world ; five species are 
found in the region covered by this book, and only six in 
North America. The grebes are long-necked divers with 
straight, slender bills, and with the feathers of the under parts 
of a peculiar satiny texture. The three front toes have lobed 
membranes along their sides. The heads in many species are 
furnished, in the breeding season, with brightly colored crests, 
ruffs, etc. These are lost after the nesting is over, thus pro- 
ducing seasonal differences so great as to make the birds 
appear as separate species. These head appendages, and their 
erect position, give the birds a most grotesque appearance. 



FAM. LXIV. GREBES 



345 



They have the power, when alarmed, of sinking quietly back- 
wards into the water and then swimming almost any distance 
with only the tip of , the bill above the surface. Like all of 
the divers, their food consists mainly of fish, which they are 
able to catch under water by their rapid swimming, using their 
feet alone for propulsion. In this they differ from the auks, 
which use both legs and wings. 




Holbcell's Grebe. 



Key to the Species 

* Bill stout and somewhat hooked, its length not quite twice its greatest 

depth at base 1 6. Pied-billed Grebe. 

* Bill straight and more slender, its length more 

than twice its depth at base. 2 (A.) 

A. Culmen more than 2\ long 

1. Western Grebe. 

A. Culmen, 1|—2| long ; wing over 6 long 2. 

A. Culmen, \-\\ long ; wing under 6 long. (B.) 

B. Wing under \\ long 5. St. Domingo Grebe. 

B. Wing, 41-6 long. (C.) 

C. Bill flattened sidewise and thus higher than wide at base 

3. Horned Grebe. 

C. Bill wider than high at base 
... 4. American Eared Grebe. 



1. Western Grebe (1. ^Ech- 
mdphorus occidentcllis). — A very 
large, long, slender-billed, mot- 
tled, brownish - backed grebe, 
with all the under parts satiny 
white. The primaries are choc- 
olate-brown with white bases, 
and the secondaries are mostly 
white. It has a short crest and 
puffy cheeks. This is a com- 
mon grebe of the extreme west. 
The grebes rarely fly to escape 
their enemies, but depend upon 
their diving and swimming 
powers. 




Western Grebe 



346 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 24-29; wing, 8 (7-J-8-J) ; tarsus, 
North America east to Manitoba, and south to central Mexico. 

2. HolboeH's Grebe (2. Colymbus holbceUii). — Adult in winter, 

a common, blackish-brown-backed, whitish-bellied grebe, with 

some pale brownish- 







Holboell's (jrebe 



red on the sides of 
the neck. Young, a 
blackish-backed, sil- 
very - bellied grebe, 
with the neck and 
sides grayish. Adult 
in summer, a black- 
ish-backed, chocolate- 
brown-sided, white- 
bellied grebe, with 
the crown, small 
crest, and back of the 
neck black. There is 
a silvery-ash patch on the throat, changing to deep, brownish- 
red on the front and sides of neck to the breast. On the water 
this is a very graceful bird, swimming and diving with the 
greatest ease. When fly- 
ing, and it flies rapidly, the 
neck and feet are stretched 
to their full length. (Red- 
necked Grebe.) 

Length, 19; wing, 7f (7f- 
81) ; tarsus, 2f ; culmen, 1-|- 
2J-. North America ; breeding 

from about the northern border of the states northward, and wintering 
south to about the Gulf, at least casually. 

3. Horned Grebe (3. Colymbus auritus). — Adult in summer, 
— a very much crested and ruffed grebe, with the top of head, 
hind neck, and throat black ; stripe and plumes behind the eye 
chestnut, blackening on the sides ; front of neck to breast 
chestnut ; back and wings blackish ; belly white, and sides 




FAM. LXIV. GREBES 347 

washed with chestnut. Adult in winter, a common, slightly 
crested, grayish-black-backed, silvery-white-bellied grebe, with 
some grayish tints on throat and breast. This and the pied- 
billed grebe (Xo. 6.) are in their winter 
dress much alike in appearance, and are 
often mistaken for each other. The 
horned grebe's bill is straighter and 
more slender than that of the pied-bill. 
"When ordinarily swimming, the feet 
struck out alternately, and the progres- 
sion was steady ; but sometimes both feet struck together, and 
then the movement was by great bounds, and was evidently 
calculated to force the bird over an expanse of very weedy 
water, or through any tangle of weeds or rushes in which it 
might have found itself." (E. E. Thompson.) 

Length, 121-151; wing, 5| (oi-5f); tarsus, If; culmen, f. North 
America ; breeding from the northern range of 
states northward, and wintering south to about 
the Gulf of Mexico. 





4. American Eared Grebe (4. Colymbus 
nigricoJUs calif drnicus). — Adult in summer, 
— a western, black-headed, black-necked, 
blackish-brown-backed, white-bellied grebe, with conspicuous 
golden-brown ear tufts and a white blotch on the chocolate- 
brown wings, formed by the tips of the secondaries. The 
winter coloring is much the same as that of the last, but the 
difference of bill (wider than high at base), and the smaller 
size distinguish the species. 

Length, 13; wing, 5£ (5— 5f); tarsus, If-; culmen, |. Northern and 
western North America (west of the Mississippi in the United States), 
south to Central America. 

5. St. Domingo Grebe (5. Colymbus dominicus). — An extreme 
southern, very small, brownish-black-backed grebe, with clusk}-- 
mottled, silky-white belly. The crown is deep, glossy, steel- 
blue, and the sides of head and the neck all around are ashy- 
gray. There are no decided crests or ruffs. 



348 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Length, 9| ; wing, 3| (3^-4^); tarsus, 11 ; culmen, f. South America, 
from Paraguay north to Texas and Lower California, including the West 

Indies. 

6. Pied-billed Grebe (6. Podi- 
lymbus pbdiceps). — A common, 
small, brownish-black grebe (in 
summer), with the lower breast 
and belly nearly white. The front 
and sides of the neck are lighter 
than the back, and more nearly 
brown ; there is a black band 
across the bill at the middle. 
In winter, the coloring is much 
the same, but the band across 
the bill is lacking, and the throat 
is white. This is our common- 
est grebe. It can dive head first 
beneath the water, as well as 
sink gradually like the other 
Diedapper; Hell-diver; Water- 




Pied-billed Grebe 



species. (Dab-chick ; Dipper 
witch ; etc.) 

Length, 13| ; wing, 4f (4|-5£) ; tarsus, \\ ; culmen, 
from the Dominion of Canada to the Argentine Republic, including the 
West Indies ; breeding nearly throughout. 



PAET III 

THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

This part is designed to enable any person with moderate 
patience and energy to become familiar with all conspicuous 
common birds. The only preparation necessary for its nse is 
the ability to recognize the English sparrow, the robin, and the 
crow when seen, and to tell the difference between an owl and 
a hawk. The Keys furnish a guide to two hundred of our 
most common land birds, helping the pupil to recognize them 
at sight or by their notes, without shooting a single specimen. 

With two mornings each week of the spring and early sum- 
mer devoted to the pleasant task of seeing and hearing the 
birds, the learner should, in a few seasons, be sufficiently 
familiar with them to recognize these common birds at sight. 
A few birds will always remain unidentified until they are 
dead and in the hands of an experienced ornithologist. It is 
easy enough to recognize the family to which they belong — 
to see that they are finches or wood warblers or vireos or fly- 
catchers, but it is far more difficult to determine the species. 
These difficulties present themselves mainly with females ; but 
since they perplex even the skilled ornithologist, they must 
not discourage the beginner. 

Progress will seem to be slowest during the first season. It 
will be harder to learn the first ten birds than any succeeding 
twenty. At the start it appears difficult to observe any birds 
with care, but one gradually learns to move and work in such 
a manner as not to frighten the birds. After some practice 
the observer notes more peculiarities at a single glance than a 
minute or two of careful study reveals to a beginner. Practice 

349 



350 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

in this as in everything else renders the work easy, certain, 
and rapid. At the start few bird voices will be heard ; after 
a little experience, the woods and fields will seem to resound 
with them. To the beginner the bird notes mean little ; to the 
bird lover they are replete with meaning. 

In studying birds in the field, the observer must remem- 
ber that they are naturally timid and have remarkably 
sharp eyes and ears ; almost invariably they see before they 
are seen. They desire to investigate, not to be investigated ; 
so, the more careless the learner appears to be, the less he 
shows that he is studying the birds, and the more strange 
chirps and whistles he can utter, the nearer he can approach 
and the better he can observe. 

Methods of study. — There are three methods of studying 
birds. (1) To stay in good bird localities and await the ap- 
proach of the birds. (2) To walk quietly in field and wood, 
on the alert, while advancing, for the objects of study. (3) To 
be driven slowly in a carriage or other conveyance through good 
bird localities. The first method is by far the best for begin- 
ners; the others are very useful after a score or more of 
common birds are well known. The success of the last method 
will be a surprise. Birds do not expect observation from the 
occupants of moving vehicles, and so will act naturally and 
may be closely approached. The slowest of walking horses 
should be used. 

Locality. — In order to choose a good locality for carrying 
out the first plan, attention must be given to the fact that 
some birds are always to be found in forests, some in shrub- 
bery, some in open fields, some near the water, some on the 
ground, and some in the tree tops. Hence a place which com- 
bines as many forms of landscape as possible within the scope 
of the eye and ear will be the one to select. If a stream of 
water flows through a wood and then into a field, a covered 
position near the brook at the point where it issues from the 
forest will be well adapted for a view of many kinds of bird 
haunts. Then, if the proper time of day and the proper time 



SPECIAL FEATURES 351 

of the year are chosen, there will be no lack of birds to study ; 
the danger is rather that there will be so many that they will 
bewilder the beginner. 

Season. — For many reasons the best time of the year to 
begin work is the spring and early summer. The birds are 
then most brightly plumaged; they sing most loudly, most 
sweetly, and most characteristically; it is nesting time, and 
near their nests the same birds can be seen day after day, and 
thus can be thoroughly studied ; the young birds with their 
plain tints are not abundant enough to confuse the student, 
and the females are most of the time hidden from view. 

Time of day. — In spring and summer the best time of day 
is the early morning from sunrise to 10 a.m. ; next best is the 
evening just before sunset. The poorest time of all is the mid- 
dle of the day. During the cold months the best hours are 
from noon to about 3 p.m. 

Which birds to study. — A beginner should try to determine 
the names of only those birds that have conspicuous colors 
or markings. They will, as a rule, be males, and are the birds 
that have characteristic notes, and those that are especially 
described in the Keys of this part of the book. When a bird 
is determined upon for study, it should be closely examined 
through an opera glass, and as many points as possible should 
be mentally noted before the book is opened, and even before 
the opera glass is taken from the eyes. All bird workers first 
become acquainted with the males, and later learn to recog- 
nize the females and young by seeing them associated with the 
males, and reading such descriptions as are found in Part II. of 
this book. 

Special features to examine. — The points to be first deter- 
mined are the size as compared to that of the English sparrow 
and the robin ; the length of the bill as compared to the length 
of the head ; the form of the bill, whether stout or slender; the 
actual and comparative length of the wings and the tail ; the 
colors, markings, etc., of the breast, the back, and the wings ; 
the presence or absence of wing bars, and their color, if present; 



352 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

the tip of the tail, whether notched, square, or rounded; and 
the presence or absence of white on the tail feathers (to be 
seen when the bird is on the wing). Of course any peculiarity 
of habit of perching or flying, any sounds produced, any posi- 
tion habitually taken, the method of gathering food or of 
progressing on the ground (walking or hopping), should be 
observed. 

Aids to successful work. — A power of mimicry is a valuable 
attainment for bird study. By imitating the notes heard, not 
only will you better remember the sounds, but the birds will 
try to investigate the source of the notes, and will thus come 
nearer to you than under any other circumstances. If you are 
not able to imitate bird sounds, then " squeak " by rapidly kiss- 
ing the finger ; this gives a sound similar to that of a bird in 
distress, and will usually bring into view many of the birds 
of the vicinity, especially during the mating season. Bird 
whistles that can be held in the mouth are useful in lieu of 
mimicry. 

Winter study of birds. — Though for a beginner spring and 
summer are the best times for study, there are some advan- 
tages in winter work which are worthy of mention. There are 
comparatively few birds to be seen in the winter, and no young 
to confuse by their nondescript plumage ; and there is but little 
foliage to hide the birds from view. The middle of the day is 
the best time for study during the winter. 

Local bird lists. — Obtain all the lists you can of the birds 
of } T our locality. The more local the list, the better it will be. 
Such a list will enable you to know what birds are to be ex- 
pected at any season. 

General hints. — In order to emphasize the important points, 
a brief resume is here given. 

(1) All your movements must be quiet and not sudden. 
Acquire the habit of investigating without appearing to do so. 
If you need to get near a bird, do it by imperceptible advances. 

(2) Your clothing should be free from bright or sharply con- 
trasted tints ; and it is better to have the sun back of yon. 



METHOD OF USING THE KEYS 353 

(3) You need an opera glass or a field glass. If this is 
bright or glossy, cover it with gray cloth, and let this cloth 
extend about an inch beyond the front lenses. It is well also 
to have a folding artist's stool, as your patience may be tried 
by an uncomfortable position. Always carry a notebook and 
pencil with you and use them. 

(4) Find a good bird locality and visit it day after day, 
until you have learned a goodly number of its feathered song- 
sters. Good localities are such as have within easy reach 
trees, bushes, water, swamp, upland, and lowland. 

(5) Begin your investigation in spring just before the leaves 
expand, and attempt to find the name of one new bird at a 
time. Let that one be a male with some decided peculiarity 
of color, marking, note, or habit, or, if possible, all of these. 

(6) Accustom yourself to observe and remember many 
things without removing the opera glass from your eyes. 
Think at the start of each of the following parts : bill, back, 
breast, belly, crown, wings, and tail, and observe something 
peculiar about each. The ability to do this will grow rapidly, 
and you will soon be surprised at the ease with which you 
observe. 

(7) Try to make sounds similar to those of birds, either 
chirpings or more elaborate sounds. If you can do no better, 
hold the finger against the lips, and, by drawing in the breath, 
make kissing sounds somewhat like those of a bird in distress. 
This will cause a commotion among the smaller birds, and will 
frequently bring a number into view. Use a mechanical bird 
whistle if you can do no better. 

(8) The true colors of birds cannot be determined with accu- 
racy when seen against a bright sky. So for color of plumage 
try to observe the bird when brush or grass or trees are in the 
background. 

Method of using the Keys. — The construction of the Keys 

for the birds in the bush is on the same plan as the others in 

the book, but as the Field Keys are especially designed for 

beginners, who need more cautions and hints than others, the 

apgar's birds. — 23 



354 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

directions are here repeated more minutely, with an illustrative 
example showing the plan of procedure. 

Note first the great divisions of birds into groups as given 
on page 356. You have to decide, mainly by the size of your 
bird, which Key contains it. Turn to this Key, read all the 
statements beginning with stars (*), and choose the one which 
best describes the bird you are investigating; at the end of 
the one chosen there is a letter in parenthesis (or possibly the 
name of a bird and the page where it is described). The letter 
directs you to the statements under the same letter somewhere 
below, and from among these statements you must choose the 
one that best describes the bird you are observing. In order 
to decide, you must carefully read all the statements. At the 
end of the chosen one you will find another letter in paren- 
thesis. Turn to the place where this is used and continue as 
before. Never refer to any letters or read any statements 
except those to which you are directed by the letter in paren- 
thesis. At some stage in your progress you will find, instead 
of a letter in parenthesis, the name of a bird and the page 
where it is described. Turn to this page and carefully read the 
description ; if there is an illustration, examine it and compare 
it with the bird you are studying. 

The descriptions of all birds in this book were especially 
written for use in the field, and just such markings as can 
readily be seen at a short distance are emphasized. Great 
pains have been taken to form descriptions in sentences so 
connected that they can be readily remembered, and repeated 
mentally. If the bird is seen against a bright sky, some allow- 
ance must be made for colors. 

Suppose you are observing a bird with the following charac- 
teristics : when at rest the head, back, and most of the wings 
appear black. The spots on the wings and the base of the 
tail are orange or flame color, and the belly white. Under 
the wings there is much flame color. It is somewhat smaller 
than the English sparrow; hence you will find it by the aid 
of the Key on page 356. (As it is sometimes nearly as large as 



KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 



355 




a small English sparrow, it is given also in the Key on page 359.) 
Read the three statements following the stars. Though your 
bird is a peculiarly 
lively one, and is often 
seen flying from twig- 
to twig, floating down- 
ward and darting up- 
ward, you conclude 
that it can hardly be 
considered as generally 
on the wing, and as 
it does not show creep- 
ing habits on the 
trunks and larger 
limbs, you search for 
it under the third star, 

where, in parenthesis, you are directed to read the statements 
following the A's, of which there are four. Reading these 
carefully, you find that the second is most satisfactory, and 
you turn to the K's. Here there are five statements, and the 
first is seemingly right. The name Redstart is given, with 
the direction to turn to page 96, where a description of your 
bird will be found. 

GENERAL KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 
LAND BIRDS 

This Key includes a few Water Birds which occasionally do 
not show their water habits. For the general Key to Water 
Birds, see page 371. 

In the Keys of this section (Part III.) no general attempt 
has been made to include any but male birds in good plumage, 
as the introduction of the female and young forms would have 
increased the number of divisions of the Keys to such an ex- 
tent as to render them too difficult for the use of beginners. 
The rarer species are omitted for the same reason, 






356 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

* Owls. Mainly night-flying birds, of loose plumage and large heads ; 

they have their eyes in a facial disk, and so look forward instead of 
sideways Key, p. 369. 

* Hawks, Vultures, Kites, and Eagles. Generally large birds, with very 

hooked bills. These birds in most cases take an erect position in 
perching Key, p. 370. 

* Land birds, other than the Birds of Prey. (A.) 

A. Birds plainly smaller than the English sparrow Key below. 

A. Birds about the size of the English sparrow p. 359. 

A. Between the English sparrow and the robin in size p. 363. 

A. Birds about the size of the robin p. 366. 

A. Birds larger than the robin p. 368. 

Key to Birds Smaller than English Sparrows 

The numbers refer to the pages where the birds are described. 

* Birds seen mainly on the wing. The feet of these birds are small and 

weak ; when at rest they perch on slender things, such as telegraph 
wires. (S.) 

* Creeping birds on tree trunks and larger limbs. (Q.) 

* Birds without special creeping habits and not seen constantly on the 

wing. (A.) 
A. Birds with conspicuous bright yellow on parts other than the bend 
of wing or center of the crown and without bright blue or purple. 
(L.) 
A. Birds with bright red or flame color, but no distinct lemon-yellow or 

blue. (K.) 
A. Birds with either bright purple or blue or slaty-blue (if only slaty- 
blue, then with no yellow). (I.) 
A. Birds with none of the above bright colors, except possibly a spot 
in the crown or at the bend of the wing. (B.) 
B. Very small, plain olive or grayish birds, with no bright colors except 
in some specimens, a small crown patch ; under parts whitish. (H.) 
B. Brown birds, with some cross bars J and with the habit of holding the 

tail erect. (G.) 
B. Birds with the sides of the head and breast white and a conspicuous 

black throat patch. These birds plainly say chick-a-dee. (F.) 
B. Upper parts olive ; wings and tail blackish ; two whitish wing bars ; 2 

under parts grayish white Least Flycatcher, p. 165. 

B. Not as above ; stout-billed birds. 3 * (C.) 

C. Conspicuously streaked, brownish birds. (E.) 





KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 357 

C. Plain, clay-colored bird, with no conspicuous streaks, but with a 

white line over the eye Clay-colored Sparrow, p. 131. 

C. Olive-green-backed birds which are generally seen deliberately 
searching on leaf and twig for insects. (D.) 

D. Lower parts yellowish ; no wing bars Philadelphia Vireo, p. 98. 

D. Lower parts white ; two distinct wing bars ; 2 eyes white 

White-eyed Vireo, p. 100. 

E. Tail notched, 5 and with some yellowish at the base of the blackish 

feathers ; wing also with some yellow Pine Siskin, p. 119. 

E." Tail notched ; 5 crown chestnut ; forehead blackish ; a whitish line 

over the eye Chipping Sparrow, p. 130. 

E. Tail not notched, usually rounded, 6 of narrow, sharp-pointed tail 
feathers. 7 Grasshopper Sp., p. 124. Henslow's Sp., p. 125. 

Sharp-tailed Sp., p. 126. 

F. Head with a distinct black cap ; back ashy 

Chickadee, p. 61. Carolina Chickadee, p. 62. 

F. Crown dull brownish ; extreme northern 

Hudsonian Chickadee, p. 62. 

G. Tail very short ; under parts brown like the back, but lighter 

Winter Wren, p. 68. 

G. Tail longer; under parts grayish; back dark brown, without 

streaks House Wren, p. 68. 

G. Upper parts dark cinnamon-brown ; a distinct white line over the 
eye ; tail with the outer feathers black, and the central ones 

barred 1 Bewick's Wren, p. 67. 

G. Back streaked lengthwise with white or white and black 

Short-billed Marsh Wren, p. 69. Long-billed Marsh Wren, p. 69 
H. Olive-green birds, seen flitting near the tips of twigs and bushes 

under parts yellowish-gray ; crown usually with a bright spot 

Golden-crowned Kinglet, p. 56. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, p. 57 

H. Slender, grayish bird, with a long tail. .Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, p. 57 

I. Whole plumage blue Indigo Bunting, p. 139 

I. Southern bird, with bright blue, green, and red in the plumage. 

Painted Bunting, p. 139 

I. Slaty-blue-backed birds. (J.) 
J. Throat and sides black ; lower breast and belly white, a distinct white 

wing patch Black-throated Blue Warbler, p. 82. 

J. Throat and belly white ; sides streaked with black ; two white wing 

bars 2 Cerulean Warbler, p. 84. 

K. With much flame color at base of tail and middle of wing ; upper 
parts black ; belly about white American Redstart, p. 96. 




358 THE STUDY OF BIBBS IN THE FIELD 

K. Streaky, winter bird, with red on the crown, and in the male on 

the breast also f Redpoll, p. 118. 

K. Throat and breast orange flame color ; head black striped with 

flame color Blackburnian Warbler, p. 86. 

K. Very small, olive-green-backed birds, with red or flame color on 

the crown 

Golden-crowned Kinglet, p. 56. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, p. 57. 

K. Bird with crimson, black, yellow, white, and plain brown, in the 

plumage * European Goldfinch, p. 120. 

L. A yellow-bodied bird, with black wings and tail (in the winter the 

body is washed with brownish) American Goldfinch, p. 118. 

L. Face bright red ; back cinnamon-brown ; wings with a yellow band 

European Goldfinch, p. 120. 

L. Bird with some shade of yellow nearly everywhere 

Yellow Warbler, p. 82. 

L. Slender-billed birds, not as above. (M. ) 
M. Throat and breast bright yellow, unspotted and unstreaked. (P.) 
M. Breast and belly white or nearly so, with at most a tint of yellow. (0.) 
M. Throat and upper breast black ; belly white ; much of the head 

yellow ; back olive-green Black-throated Green Warbler, p. 87. 

M. Head, neck, and throat bluish-gray, changing to black on the 
breast ; belly yellow ; upper parts, including wings and tail, olive- 
green ; no wing bars Mourning Warbler, p. 92. 

M. Breast yellow, with dark streaks or blotch. (N.) 
N. Upper parts grayish-blue, with a golden spot in the middle of the 

back ; two white wing bars. 1 . .Parula Warbler, p. 80. 

N. Crown black ; cheeks chestnut ; abroad white wing 

bar ; yellow under parts heavily streaked with black 

Cape May Warbler, p. 81 . 

N. Rump as well as the under parts rich yellow ; breast 

and sides heavily streaked with black ; two white wing bars ; 1 upper 

parts dark olive Magnolia Warbler, p. 83. 

N. Crown chestnut ; yellow under parts streaked with chestnut on breast 

and sides Palm Warbler, p. 88. Yellow Palm Warbler, p. 89. 

0. Crown and wing patch yellow ; chin, throat, and band through 

eye black ; back bluish-gray Golden-winged Warbler, p. 78. 

0. Back olive-green (abruptly changing to gray on the head of the 

male) ; no white wing bars ; no black on head and breast 

Tennessee Warbler, p. 80. 

0. Crown yellow ; sides chestnut ; back and wings streaked with 

black and yellow Chestnut-sided Warbler, p. 84. 

P. Sides of neck and body with black streaks ; back olive-green (spotted 

with chestnut in the male) ; two yellow wing bars 

Prairie Warbler, p. 89. 

P. Back olive ; head with a peculiar black mask ; lower belly white 

Maryland Yellow-throat, p. 93. 



KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 359 

P. Cap black ; back olive-yellow ; under parts yellow shading to olive 

on the sides „ , Wilson's Warbler, p. 94. 

P. Sides streaked with black ; white line over the eye ; two white wing 

bars ; 1 belly white Yellow- throated Warbler, p. 86. 

P. Back olive-green, changing to gray on the head and neck ; wing and 

tail brownish ; no wing bars Nashville Warbler, p. 79. 

P. Back olive-green; wings slaty -blue ; forehead and all under parts 

bright yellow ; a dark line through eye . . . Blue-winged Warbler, p. 78. 

Q. Slender brown bird, with long tail of sharp-pointed feathers used 

in climbing ; belly white Brown Creeper, p. 63. 

Q. Slender bird, with the whole plumage streaked black and white. . . 

.Black and White Warbler, p. 76. 

Q. Short-tailed birds creeping with the head downward as often as 
upward. (R.) 
R. Lower breast and belly reddish-brown. Red-breasted Nuthatch, p. 59. 

R. Top of head dark brown Brown-headed Nuthatch, p. 60. 

S. Very small bird, seen hovering over flowers. Hummingbird, p. 166. 

S. Larger bird, with mouse-colored back and white belly 

Rough-winged Swallow, p. 107. Bank Swallow, p. 107. 

S. Steel-blue-backed, long-winged bird, with reddish rump 

Cliff Swallow, p. 105. 

S. The flycatchers are so frequently seen on the wing after insects, 
that they might be looked for here ; they sit on a twig, with 
depressed tail and quivering wings, till an insect is seen, when they 
dart out, and after catching their prey, return to the same perch. . . 
Least Flycatcher, p. 165. 

Key to Birds about the Size of the English Sparrow 

The numbers refer to the pages where the birds are described. 

* Birds seen mainly on the wing. The feet of these birds are small and 

weak ; when at rest they perch on slender things, such as telegraph 
wires. (W.) 

* Birds seen creeping along trunks and larger branches of trees. (V.) 

* Birds neither constantly on the wing nor creeping on tree trunks. (A.) 

A. Birds with a conspicuous amount of bright yellow, but no red. (P. ) 
A. Birds with rich orange or flame color, but no lemon-yellow. (0.) 
A. Stout-billed birds, with more or less of distinct red in the 
plumage. (N.) 

A. Birds blue in color. — Including breast Indigo Bunting, p. 139. 

— Breast brown Bluebird, p. 55. 

A. Birds with none of the above bright colors (yellow, 

flame, red, or blue) in conspicuous amounts. (B.) /^? 

B. Crested, 2 loud-voiced, gray bird . .Tufted Titmouse, p. 61. 
B. Stout-billed birds, without crest. (F.) 
B. Slender-billed birds, without crest. (C.) 2 



<£* \ 



360 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

C. Birds with somewhat barred 1 brown plumage, and with the habit of 
holding the tail erect. Bewick's Wren, p. 67. Carolina Wren, p. 66. 

C. Crown, throat, upper breast, and sides chestnut 

Bay-breasted Warbler, p. 85. 

C. Black and white streaked ; crown black. Black-poll Warbler, p. 85. 

C. Walking ground bird, of open fields and pastures, with white tips 

to the outer tail feathers and a voice which plainly says dee-dee, 

dee-dee American Pipit, p. 70. 

C. Olive-green to olive backed birds, with at most a yellowish tint 
on the under parts, usually without any yellow. (D.) 
D. Birds with a thrush-like, spotted breast. (E.) 

D. Flycatching birds, with the habit of sitting on a perch, with depressed 
tail and quivering wings, watching for insects. These they capture on 
the wing with a click of the bill, and then return to the same perch. 
Wood Pewee, p. 163. Green-crested Flycatcher, p. 164. Least Fly- 
catcher, p. 165. 
D. Crown distinctly marked with four black and three buffy stripes ; 

under parts whitish Worm-eating Warbler, p. 77. 

E. Crown bright orange, edged with black stripes. . .Oven-Bird, p. 90. 

E. Crown olive, like the back 

Water-Thrush, p. 90. Louisiana Water-Thrush, p. 91. 

F. Slate-colored bird, with the belly abruptly white, and the outer tail 

feathers white The Juncos, p. 132. 

F. Winter bird, mainly white in color, more or less blotched with 

brownish Snowflake, p. 121. 

F. Birds with the sides of the head and breast white, and a conspicuous 

black throat patch ; their notes seem plainly to say chick-a-dee 

The Chickadees, p. 61. 

F. Olive-green to olive backed birds, with at most a yellowish tint on 
the light-colored under parts ; these birds deliberately hunt for insects 
upon twigs, leaves, and bark. (M.) 
F. Streaky, brownish birds. (G.) 

G. Outer tail feathers conspicuously white. (This can readily be seen 

when the birds are flying.) (L.) 
G. Outer tail feathers not white. (H.) 
H. Breast grayish to white, unstreaked ; no distinct throat patch. (J.) 
H. Breast definitely streaky. (I.) 

H. Breast with a black patch European House Sparrow, p. 120. 

H. Breast with an indistinct dark-brown blotch. . .Tree Sparrow, p. 130. 

I. Marsh sparrows, with narrow, sharp-pointed tail feathers 2 

Sharp-tailed Sparrow, p. 126. Savanna Sparrow, p. 124. 




KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 361 

I. A common, reddish -brown sparrow, with the marks of the breast 
more or less massed in a blotch at the center ; no bnffy or creamy- 
band across the breast Song Sparrow, p. 133. 

I. A grayish-brown sparrow, with a sharply streaked, buffy, or creamy 

band across the breast Lincoln's Sparrow, p. 134. 

J. A salt-marsh sparrow, with a grayish, buffy breast ; a yellow spot in 
front of the eye, and on the bend of the wing ; crown not chestnut, 

but like the back in color Seaside Sparrow, p. 126. 

J. A western, grayish, clay-colored bird, with but little streakings, and 

no chestnut on the crown Clay-colored Sparrow, p. 131. 

J. A common town and village sparrow, with ashy crown 

Female English Sparrow, p. 120. 

J. Sparrows with more or less of chestnut on the crown . (K.) 
K. Tail rounded ; 3 lower parts white, with an ashy band across breast 

Swamp Sparrow, p. 134. 

K. Tail forked ; 4 lower parts dark ashy ; a black line through eye 

.Chipping Sparrow, p. 130. 

K. Tail forked ; * lower parts ashy ; no dark line through eye ; back, 

bright, reddish- brown ; bill reddish Field Sparrow, p. 131. 

L. Sides of head distinctly marked with bands and spots of white, black, 
and chestnut ; under parts white, unstreaked, but with a small black 

spot on the breast ; western Lark Sparrow, p. 127. 

L. Two white wing bars, 5 and the bend of the wing chestnut ; upper 
parts brownish-gray ; under parts white, with the breast and sides 

distinctly streaked Vesper Sparrow, p. 123. 

L. Under parts buffy ; two white wing bars, with a black band between ; 

western winter bird Smith's Longspur, p. 122. 

L. Wing without distinct wing bars ; head, throat, and breast with much 

black ; under parts white, with some dark streaks on the sides of the 

breast and belly; northern winter bird . . Lapland Longspur, p. 121. 

M. Crown gray, bordered by blackish, rendering a white line over the 

eye very distinct ; no wing bars ; under parts pure white 

Red-eyed Vireo, p. 98. 

M. Under parts slightly tinted with yellowish ; no white line over 

the eye ; no wing bars Warbling Vireo, p. 99. 

M. Head bluish-gray ; a white eye ring, two white wing bars 5 

Blue-headed Vireo, p. 99. 

N. Streaky winter bird, with red on the crown, and in the male on the 

breast also ; bill not crossed at tip Redpoll, p. 118. 

N. Bill not crossed at tip; orchard or wood-living bird, with the plumage 
more or less generally reddish Purple Finch, p. 116. 




362 



THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 



N. Bill crossed at tip; 1 pine- woods-living birds, with dull, blood-red 

plumage The Crossbills, p. 116. 

N. A red-faced bird, with yellow, brown, black, and white in the plu- 
mage European Goldfinch, p. 120. 

0. Throat and breast orange flame color ; head black, striped with 

flame color Blackburnian Warbler, p. 86. 

0. Whole head, neck, and under parts rich orange 

Prothonotary Warbler, p. 76. 

0. With much flame color at base of tail and middle of wing ; upper 

parts black ; belly about white American Redstart, p. 96. 

P. A yellow-bodied bird, with black wings and tail (in the winter the 

body has brownish washings) American Goldfinch, p. 118. 

P. A streaky, bluish-gray, slender-billed bird ; a yellow spot on rump, 

crown, and side of breast Myrtle Warbler, p. 83. 

Breast yellow, without streaks ; belly white or whitish. (T.) 
Breast and belly yellow, unstreaked (the lower belly may be whitish). 
(S.) 

Belly yellow, but the breast not pure yellow. (R.) 
Breast yellow, with streaks or spots. (Q.) 
Q. All under parts yellow, with a necklace of black spots across the 

breast ; upper parts gray Canadian Warbler, p. 95. 

Q. Crown black ; cheeks chestnut ; a broad white wing bar ; under 

parts heavily streaked with black Cape May Warbler, p. 81. 

Head, neck, and breast bluish-gray ; eye ring white 

Connecticut Warbler, p. 92. 

Head, neck, and throat bluish-gray, changing to black on the breast ; 

upper parts olive-green ; no wing bars Mourning Warbler, p. 92. 

Upper parts dark olive-green ; throat, breast, and sides washed with 

olive-green ; two whitish wing bars 2 

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, p. 164. 

S. Crown black, connected below the head with a black throat patch ; 

forehead, sides of head, and belly yellow ; back olive-green 

Hooded Warbler, p. 94. 

S. Crown and side of throat black, but the throat yellow ; a curved 
yellow line over the eye ; no wing bars. . .Kentucky Warbler, p. 91. 

S. Crown like the back olive-green ; two whitish wing bars 

Pine Warbler, p. 88. 

T. Stout-billed 3 ground bird, with a black blotch on the throat ; chin 

white ; back streaky ; breast bright yellow Dickcissel, p. 141. 

T. Heavy -billed, 4 bright olive-green-backed bird, with two white wing 
bars 2 and a white eye ring Yellow-throated Vireo, p. 99. 



R 



R. 



R. 



KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 363 

T. Slender-billed 5 birds. (U.) 
U. Crown chestnut ; yellow under parts streaked with chestnut on 

breast and sides. Palm Warblers, p. 88. 

U. Back olive ; head with a black mask , 

Maryland Yellow-Throat, p. 93. 

U. Sides streaked with black ; a white line over the eye ; two white 

wing bars 2 Yellow-throated Warbler, p. 86. 

V. Slender brown bird, with long, sharp-pointed tail feathers 6 

Brown Creeper, p. 63. 

V. Slender bird, everywhere streaked with black and white 

Black and White Warbler, p. 76. 

V. Short-tailed creeper, with much black and white in the plumage ; 

creeping head downward as often as upward 

White-breasted Nuthatch, p. 59. 

W. Iridescent or glossy-backed swallows. (Z.) 
W. Dull-colored birds, without iridescence. (X.) 
X. Sooty-brown bird, with very short tail, much shorter than the wings 

Chimney Swift, p. 167. 

X. Mouse-colored swallows, with not especially short tails. (Y.) 

Y. Under parts white, with a brownish band across breast 

Bank Swallow, p. 107. 

Y. Throat and breast brownish ; belly white 

Rough-winged Swallow, p. 107. 

Z. Steel-blue-backed swallow, with the throat and breast chestnut ; tail 

deeply forked 7 Barn Swallow, p. 106. 

Z. Back steel-blue; rump chestnut; tail nearly even; head, throat, and 

breast chestnut Cliff Swallow, p. 105. 

Z. Blackish-green-backed swallow, with all lower parts white ; tail nearly 
even Tree Swallow, p. 106. 

Key to Birds between the English Sparrow and Robin in Size 

The numbers refer to the pages where the birds are described. 

* Creeping birds upon the trunks of trees. (N.) 

* Birds practically always seen on the wing. (M.) 

* Ground birds, with slender bills and plainly spotted breasts. (K.) 

* Decidedly crested, seal-brown birds with yellow tips to the tail feathers 
Waxwings, p. 103. 

* Not as above. (A. ) 

A. With a conspicuous amount of bright yellow or orange in the 
plumage. (J.) 





364 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

A. With decided red in the plumage. (I.) 
A. With decided blue. (H.) 

A. Black bird, with a brown head and neck Cowbird, p. 144. 

A. With large amounts of both black and white, but no bright red. (G.) 
A. Not as above. (B.) 

B. With head, back, and tail black, and belly chestnut 

Orchard Oriole, p. 147. 

B. Slate-colored bird, with chestnut patch under the tail . . . Catbird, p. 65. 
B. Winter bird, mainly white in color, but more or less washed with 

brown Snowflake, p. 121. 

B. Ground bird, with pinkish-brown back, white belly, and black cres- 
cent on breast Horned Lark, p. 156. 

B. Brown to olive, unstreaked birds, with gray breasts. These birds have 
the habit of sitting on a perch, watching for insects, which, when seen, 
are captured on the wing with a characteristic click of the bill, the 
bird returning to the old perch. (F.) 
B. Streaked, brownish, heavy-billed, sparrow-like birds. (C.) 

C. With acute-pointed tail feathers, 1 and no white anywhere 

Bobolink, p. 144. 

C. Outer feathers of the tail with much white 

The Longspurs, pp. 121, 122. 

C. Tail feathers not acute, and the outer ones not white. (D.) 
D. Head without stripes ; body and wings with much chestnut ; breast 

decidedly spotted Fox Sparrow, p. 135. 

D. Head without stripes ; no chestnut on body or wings ; head and back 

blackish streaked ; under parts conspicuously streaked 

Red-winged Blackbird, p. 146. 

D. Head decidedly striped ; throat with a distinct patch of white ; breast 
grayish. (E.) 

E. A yellow spot in front of eye White-throated Sparrow, p. 129. 

E. No yellow spot in front of eye White-crowned Sparrow, p. 128. 

F. Slightly crested bird, with much chestnut on the wings and tail ; 

throat and breast pearl-gray ; belly yellow. Crested Flycatcher, p. 161. 

F. Olive-brown-backed, nearly black-crowned bird, with the under parts 

yellowish-white, and the bill black . . .Phoebe, p. 162. 

F. Blackish -olive-backed flycatcher, with the side olive-colored and only 

the central line of the lower parts white. Olive-sided Flycatcher, p. 163. 

F. Grayish-slate-colored bird, with a white band across the tips of the tail 

feathers ; belly and throat white ; breast grayish Kingbird, p. 160. 

G. At a distance the bird above given (last F.) might be considered 
mainly black and white. It can be known by the white tips to the 

blackish tail feathers Kingbird, p. 160. 

G. Entire under parts black ; back of head buffy ; rump white. A 

musical bird of meadow and field in spring Bobolink, p. 144. 

G. Head and back black ; belly and outer tail feathers white ; sides 
chestnut. A thicket-living bird Townee, p. 136. 



KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 365 

G. Gray-backed birds, with black wings and tail, and the under parts 

mainly white ; bill decidedly hooked ' 2 Shrikes, p. 101. 

H. Upper parts with much blue ; breast brown ; belly white 

Bluebird, p. 55. 

H. Very stout-billed, 3 dark-blue bird, with black wings and tail. This is 

a southern bird, found mainly in shrubbery near water 

Blue Grosbeak, p. 138. 

I. Whole plumage red ; no crest on head. . .Summer Tanager, p. 109. 

I. Head and body red ; wings and tail black 

Scarlet Tanager, p. 108. 

I. Head and body black ; belly white ; breast rose-color ; wings and 

tail with white blotches Rose-breasted Grosbeak, p. 137. 

I. A distinctly crested 3 bird Cardinal, p. 137. 

J. Upper parts olive-green ; throat and breast bright yellow, changing 

abruptly to white on the lower belly ; a white eye ring 

Yellow-breasted Chat, p. 93. 

J. Front parts black ; much of breast, belly, and lower back rich 

orange Baltimore Oriole, p. 148. 

J. Upper parts and tail olive-green ; under parts yellow 

Orchard Oriole, p. 147. 

J. Upper parts brownish ; under parts dull orange ; wings blackish, with 

white wing bars Baltimore Oriole, p. 148. 

J. Slightly crested bird, with brownish-olive back, sulphur-yellow belly, 

• and chestnut edgings on wing and tail feathers 

Crested Flycatcher, p. 161. 

J. A streaky, sparrow-like ground bird, with bright-yellow breast and 

black blotch on throat Dickcissel, p. 141. 

K. Outer tail feathers with white. A meadow and field, tail-wagging 

bird, with a dark-olive-brown back American Pipit, p. 70. 

K. Outer tail feathers white tipped. A " cooing," southern, brownish- 
gray bird, with the lower parts wine-tinted. . .Ground Dove, p. 217. 
K. A short-tailed, long- winged, "teetering" bird, with a slender bill 

about an inch long 4 Spotted Sandpiper, p. 248. 

K. Birds with rather long tails, having the outer feathers without 
white. (L.) 
L. Crown reddish-brown, changing gradually to olive on the tail ; breast 

and sides heavily marked with round, black spots 

Wood Thrush, p. 51. 

L. Crown and back olive, changing gradually to reddish on the tail ; 

only the breast spotted ; spots wedge-shaped 

Hermit Thrush, p. 53. 






366 



THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 



L. Whole back from crown to tip of tail reddish ; upper breast slightly- 
spotted ; sides white Wilson's Thrush, p. 52. 

L. Whole back olive 

Olive-backed Thrush, p. 53. Gray-cheeked Thrush, p. 52. 

M. A sooty-black, long-winged, but very short-tailed bird 

Chimney Swift, p. 167. 

M. A swallow with a very deeply forked tail 1 and steel-blue upper 

parts ; chestnut on throat and upper breast. .Barn Swallow, p. 106. 

M. All parts more or less shining blue-black . . . Purple Martin, p. 105. 

N. Back black, with a central stripe of white ; wings with round white 

spots ; under parts grayish-white ; some red on the head of the male. 

Hairy Woodpecker, p. 173. Downy Woodpecker, p. 173. 

N. Back mottled black, white, and yellowish ; belly greenish-yellow ; 

breast with black ; crown (and in the male throat also) red 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, p. 175. 



Key to Birds about the Size of the American Robin 
The numbers refer to the pages where the birds are described. 

* Creeping birds upon tree trunks. (H.) 

* Peculiarly mottled long-winged brown birds, with large mouth, but short 

bill ; seen mainly on the wing. (D.) 

* Long-winged, fork-tailed, 1 slender-billed 2 birds ; seen constantly on 

the wing and appearing like large swallows, but with harsh voices. . . 
Terns, pp. 323-327. 

* Birds neither fitted for creeping nor seen constantly on the wing. (A. ) 
A. Birds with bright red in conspicuous amounts. (G. ) 

A. Grayish-slate-colored bird, with chestnut-brown breast, white throat, 

and white lower belly American Robin, p. 54. 

A. Crested birds, mainly blue in color. (F. ) 

A. Black bird, without bright red anywhere, but sometimes with rusty 

tips to the feathers Rusty Blackbird, p. 149. 

A. Slate-colored bird, with chestnut blotch under the tail. Catbird, p. 6o. 

A. Not as above. (B.) 

B. Upper parts uniform in tint, neither streaked nor spotted ; outer tail 

feathers either wholly white or distinctly white at tip ; under parts 

nearly white. (E.) 

B. Slightly crested bird, with grayish to brownish-olive back, grayish 

throat, and sulphur-yellow belly. There are chestnut edgings to wing 

and tail feathers Crested Flycatcher, p. 161. 

B. Upper part gray and brown mottled. (C.) 





KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 367 

C. Short-billed, short- winged, short- tailed, heavy-bodied ground bird, 
with striped head and either white or buff throat patch ; under 

parts not yellow Bob-white, p. 222. 

C. Long-billed, short-tailed meadow bird, with the under parts yellow 

and a black crescent on the breast Meadowlark, p. 147. 

C. Long-winged birds, with fluffy owl-like plumage. These perch 

lengthwise on limbs or on the ground, and are much the color 

of their surroundings; open mouth very large, but culmen short. 3 

(D.) 

D. An evening-flying bird, with a large white spot on the middle of the 

wing Nighthawk, p. 170. 

D. Birds similar to the last, but without the white spot on the wing, and 
with a white or buffy band across the throat. These birds usually 

fly near the ground, the nighthawk high in the air 

Whip-poor-will, p. 169. Chuck-will's-widow, p. 169. 

E. All the tail feathers tipped with white Kingbird, p. 160. 

E. Slender birds, with brownish-gray backs, long tails, and long, curved 

bills 4 Cuckoos, p. 182. 

E. Back ashy ; tail long, and the outer feathers wholly white. A 

wonderful song bird, with rather long but nearly straight bill 

Mocking Bird, p. 64. 

E. Upper parts gray ; bill decidedly hooked at tip ; 5 head with a black 

. stripe on the side extending past the eyes Shrikes, p. 101. 

F. Large-headed bird, with long, heavy bill 6 'and two bluish bands across 

the breast Belted Kingfisher, p. 179. 

F. The bright blue of the tail cross-barred with black ; bill only about 

one inch long ; black collar across breast Blue Jay, p. 153. 

G. ¥ A conspicuously crested 7 bird, with a black face. The other parts 

entirely red (male) or much red on crest and wings (female) 

Cardinal, p. 137. 

G. A winter bird of the Northern States, with no crest, but much rosy- 
red in the plumage Pine Grosbeak, p. 115. 

G. A black bird, with red on the bend of the wing 

Red-winged Blackbird, p. 146. 

H. The whole head and neck bright red, back black, belly white, and 

wings black and white Red-headed Woodpecker, p. 176. 

H. Back distinctly but finely cross-barred with black and white ; crown 

and back neck red in the male ; belly tinged with red 

Red-bellied Woodpecker, p. 177. 

H. Back black, marked lengthwise through the center with white ; wings 
black, with many round, white dots Hairy Woodpecker, p. 173. 




368 



THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 



Key to Birds Larger than the Robin 
The numbers refer to the pages where the birds are described. 

* Birds seen constantly on the wing, and generally near or over the 

water. (E.) 

* Mottled-brownish, short-billed 1 ground birds, with feathered legs, 

walking and scratching like barnyard fowl. (D.) 

* Crested birds, with more or less of blue in the plumage. (C.) 

* Black-plumaged birds, not constantly on the wing. (B.) 

* Not as above. (A.) 

A. Long-legged ground birds, with a slender bill, 2 an inch or more 

long Bartramian Sandpiper, p. 247. 

A. Brown-colored ground birds, with a long tail and a spotted 

breast Brown Thrasher, p. 66. 

A. Loud-voiced, woodpecker-like birds, with much golden color on 
the under sides of the wings and tail, and a black crescent across 

the breast ; belly with round, black spots Flicker, p. 178. 

A. Small-headed, full -breasted, short-billed 3 birds, with reddish breast ; 

head and neck with metallic tints 

Mourning Dove, p. 216. Passenger Pigeon, p. 215. 

A. Slender birds, with long, slender, somewhat curved bills, 4 and 

long tails, having the outer feathers white tipped 

The Cuckoos, p. 182. 

A. Mottled-backed ground birds, with long, straight bill, 5 yellow 

under parts, and a black crescent on the breast 

Meadowlark, p. 147. 

A. Very much mottled, short-legged birds, with a white or buff ? collar 

around the throat Chuck-will's-widow, p. 169. 

B. Black, without iridescence The Crows, pp. 155, 156. 

B. Black, glossy, and iridescent „ Purple Grackle, p. 150. 

C. Large-headed bird, with a heavy, long, straight bill, 6 and two bluish 

bands across the breast Belted Kingfisher, p. 179. 

C. Tail and wings heavily barred 7 with black; a black band across 

breast Blue Jay, p. 153. 

D. Tail long, and when expanded, fan-shaped ; a ruff of black feathers 

on the lower part of the side neck Ruffed Grouse, p. 224. 

D. Tail extending but little beyond the tips of the wings when 

closed ; a tuft of feathers higher up on the side neck 

Prairie Hen, p. 225. 




^ 



KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 



369 



E. With square tails ; 8 size generally larger than the crow 

Gulls, pp. 329-333. 

E. With forked tails, 9 and usually not larger than the crows 

Terns, pp. 323-327. 

Key to the Owls 

The numbers refer to the pages where the birds are described. 

* Owls with conspicuous ear tufts 10 and yellow eyes. (F.) 

* Owls without ear tufts, 11 and black or yellow eyes. (A.) 

A. Large, 12 inches or more long. (C.) 

A. Small, less than 12 inches long; back spotted with white. (B.) 
B. Ground-burrowing, day owls, of the south and west, with very long 

legs, nearly naked of feathers The Burrowing Owls, pp. 190, 191. 

B. Short-legged owl, less than 9 inches long, with the head streaked, 

and the back spotted with white Saw-whet Owl, p. 187. 

B. A northern, winter, short-legged owl, nearly a foot long, with both 

head and back spotted with white Richardson's Owl, p. 187. 

C. Eyes black or nearly so. (E.) 
C. Eyes distinctly yellow. (D.) 

D. A very large, winter owl, with nearly white plumage 

Snowy Owl, p. 189. 

D. A very large, grayish-mottled owl, with the white lower parts broadly 
streaked on the breast, and irregularly barred with blackish on the 

belly and sides Great Gray Owl, p. 186. 

D. A medium-sized, day-flying, long-tailed, somewhat hawk-like owl, 
with the back dark, sooty-brown, and the head and neck much 

spotted with white American Hawk Owl, p. 190. 

D. A medium-sized, dull orange to buffy owl, with darker streaks. This 

owl has short, and usually unnoticed, ear tufts 

Short-eared Owl, p. 185. 

E. Large owl, with curious, heart-shaped, monkey-like face. 12 This is 

a spotted and speckled light-colored bird Barn Owl, p. 192. 

E. A large, grayish-brown, hooting owl, with the back and breast 

much barred, and the belly and sides streaked.. Barred Owl, p. 186. 

F. A common, small, brownish-gray or reddish owl, less than 12 inches 

long Screech Owl, p. 188. 

F. Owls over 12 inches long. (G.) 

G. A very large, heavy owl, with ear tufts 10 two inches long, and dark, 

mottled back ; the belly is rusty buff, barred with black 

Great Horned Owl, p. 188. 




7 S 

apgar's birds. 



370 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

G. A medium-sized, conspicuously eared owl (ear tufts 1 inch long), 
with dark brownish back mottled with white and- orange. The 
lower parts buffy, streaked on the breast, and barred on the sides 
and belly American Long-eared Owl, p. 185. 

G. A medium-sized, inconspicuously eared owl, with both breast and 
belly streaked. The general plumage is dull orange to buffy ...... 

Short-eared Owl, p. 185. 

Key to the Hawks, etc. 

The numbers refer to the pages where the birds are described. 

* Bird of prey, with long, deeply forked tail. 1 Swallow-tailed Kite, p. 196. 

* Small, less than 14 inches long. (E.) 

* Large hawks, 14-25 inches long. (A.) 

* Very large birds of prey, over 25 long. .Eagles, p. 205. Vultures, p. 212. 
A. Hawk with densely feathered legs ; plumage usually dark-colored. . 

American Rough-legged Hawk, p. 204. 

A. Tarsus bare for at least one third its length. (B.) 
B. Plumage with a conspicuous amount of rusty red. (D.) 
B. Without rusty red. (C.) 

C. A long-tailed hawk, with the upper tail coverts entirely white. An 

inhabitant of marshy places Marsh Hawk, p. 198. 

C. A fishing hawk, with the head, neck, and lower parts white. This 
bird is usually seen flying over large bodies of water and frequently 

dashing down for its fish food American Osprey, p. 211. 

C. All upper parts slate-colored and nearly uniform ; the sides of head 

with peculiar " mustache. " blotches Duck Hawk, p. 208. 

D. Shoulders conspicuously rusty red ; tail black, with about four broad 

white bands, and white tip Red-shouldered Hawk, p. 201. 

D. Tail rusty red, with a narrow black band near the tip, but the tip 
white ; upper breast streaked buffy and brown ; lower belly white, 

without streaks Red-tailed Hawk, p. 200. 

D. A blackish-crowned, medium-sized hawk, with a much rounded ashy- 
gray tail crossed by blackish bands and a white tip 

Cooper's Hawk, p. 199. 

D. A medium-sized hawk, with the under parts heavily barred with rusty 

buff Broad-winged Hawk, p. 203. 

E. A long-tailed, bluish-gray-backed hawk, with the lower parts whitish, 

barred on the sides and breast with rusty red or brown 

Sharp-shinned Hawk, p. 198. 

E. A very small hawk, with much rusty red on the back and usually 

on the crown v American Sparrow Hawk, p. 210. 

E. A small hawk, with slaty-blue back, a rusty collar on the neck, and 

about three whitish bars on the tail, and a white tip 

Pigeon Hawk, p. 208. 



KEY TO BIRDS IN THE FIELD 371 



General Key to the Groups of "Water Birds 

This Key is a very general one. The illustrations in Part II. are 
believed to serve better for the identification of most water birds, seen at 
a distance, than any field keys that could be prepared. The object of this 
Key is to state concisely the general characteristics of each group and 
refer the learner to the pages where descriptions and engravings can be 
found. 

* Shore birds, with round heads, short, pigeon-like bills, 2 short necks, and 

stout bodies. These are found near both salt and fresh water ponds 
and streams. None are over 12 inches long. Because of the short- 
ness of the bill, a few of the sandpipers might be looked for here, 

especially those found on pp. 247 and 248 

Plovers, pp. 229-233. Turnstone, p. 228. 

* Shore birds, with slender and usually elongated bills, 3 and generally 

long legs and necks. These are found abundantly on marshes, 
meadows, and along the shores. The plumage is generally of mottled 
brown color. The length varies from 6 to 25 inches 

— Bill long and curved downward Curlews, p. 249. 

— Bill long and curved upward ' 

Godwits, p. 244. Avocets, pp. 250, 251. 

— Bill straight and of varying length 

Snipes, Sandpipers, pp. 237-249. Phalaropes, p. 252. 

* Reedy marsh birds, with long legs, long toes, and narrow bodies. Plain- 

colored, generally skulking birds, hiding in the most inaccessible 
places, and thus difficult to see. They are noisy birds, with penetrat- 
ing voices of varied character which have been likened to those of 
pigs, frogs, chickens, etc. The length of the different species varies 
from 6-15 inches Rails, p. 255. Gallinules, p. 259. 

* Swamp birds of large size, with long necks, long, strong bills, 4 and long 

legs. They are often seen standing on one leg. These are brightly 

marked and in the breeding season beautifully crested birds 

Bitterns, p. 264. Herons, pp. 265-270. Cranes, p. 261. 

* Small swimming birds, which on shore seem much like sandpipers 

Phalaropes, p. 252. 

* Swimming birds, with stout, flattened bodies, large heads, and usually 

broad, depressed bills. 5 These are generally large birds found swim- 
ming in all waters. When flying they move through the air with 

wonderful velocity Sea Ducks, pp. 286-296. River Ducks, 

pp. 297-303. Fish Ducks, p. 304. Geese, p. 280. Swans, p. 279. 






372 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 

* Swimining and diving birds, with almost no tails. Heads peculiarly 

crested in the breeding season. Body held nearly erect when stand- 
ing— 

— Neck short Auks, pp. 338-341. 

— Neck long Loons, p. 342. Grebes, p. 345. 

* Very long-winged, flying, and swimming birds, seen usually in the air 

over the water along all shores. 

— Smaller birds, with forked tails, and the head so held as to point 
downward when flying ; voices shrill Terns, pp. 323-328. 

— Larger birds, with even tail and the head held in line with the* 
body when flying ; voices hoarse Gulls, pp. 329-336. 



PART IV 

PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS FOR DIS- 
PLAY OR STUDY 

Whether it is better to have skins or mounted birds depends 
entirely upon the use they are to serve, the number there are 
to be, and the room at disposal for their preservation. 

For beginners in ornithology, mounted birds show far more 
than skins. A bird properly stuffed, with the mouth slightly 
open, the wings placed free from the body feathers, and the 
toes well spread on the perch, can be studied by thousands of 
beginners and still remain intact. The specimen itself need 
not be handled, as all the necessary parts of head, bill, wings, 
and legs can be studied by holding the bird stand in different 
directions. A bird skin is soon torn to pieces by beginners. 
They pull the toes apart to see the amount of webbing, move 
the legs in all directions to examine the tarsus and tibia, raise 
the wings, and open the mouth. They have no respect for the 
skin ; but the mounted bird they consider a thing of beauty* 

The author has hundreds of specimens of mounted birds, 
which have been studied by thousands of his students in the 
last twenty years, and they are still in good condition for 
another twenty years of study,, while his bird skins have lasted 
but a few years. The students much prefer the mounted speci- 
mens ; indeed, all one need do to insure the birds against care- 
less usage is to warn the students, that, if the mounted birds 
are harmed by handling, skins will be used instead. 

Any moderately ingenious boy or girl can learn to mount 
birds well by following printed and illustrated instructions. 
There is an advantage in seeing one specimen m-enared by a 

373 



374 PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 

good taxidermist, but it is better for the student to see this 
work after he has made a few independent attempts. In 
any case, the first attempt is certain to be a total failure, 
and i'f the first ten are far from successful, it is no cause for 
discouragement. 

It is unfortunate that, although one starts with a thing of 
beauty, from the moment the mounting operation begins (even 
if performed by a master), through hours of labor, the speci- 
men looks worse and worse, and less and less like a bird, until 
just before it is finished. The last five minutes' work once 
more makes it look alive and beautiful. This is apt to have a 
discouraging effect upon a student, and the " thing " is often 
thrown away before the last five minutes of restorative work 
can accomplish their mission. 

The more beautiful the bird taken, the more regret is felt at 
the loss of the specimen ; so the score or more used in first 
attempts should be birds of no importance, and, if possible, 
birds whose number needs to be lessened. It is almost univer- 
sally agreed that the English sparrow belongs to this group, 
and so the learner should make use of it until success is 
assured, until at least a half dozen good mounts in different 
positions have been prepared. This will require a dozen or 
more specimens, according to the ability of the student. The 
general directions in this chapter refer to the English sparrow. 

Killing the Bird. — Have the specimen killed with "dust" 
or " No. 12 " shot. The dust is smaller and better than No. 12, 
but cannot always be purchased. Either of these makes such 
small holes in the skin that there is rarely enough bleeding to 
injure the plumage. As soon as the bird is shot, the mouth, 
the nostrils, the vent, and the bleeding shot holes, if there are 
any, should be plugged with a little cotton and the specimen 
carefully wrapped in a piece of paper. If a piece of paper is 
twisted into a cornucopia and the bird slipped into it head 
first, there will be no danger of ruffling the plumage. 

Instruments. — Sharp pocket knife, scissors, pair of pincers 
with a wire-cutting attachment, pair of tweezers, flat file, brad 



SKINNING 



375 



awl, stiff wire in handle, commercial steel pen, stiff brash a 
fourth .of an inch through (No. 4, round, bristle, marking 
brush), and a two-ounce, large-mouth bottle for arsenic, plainly 
marked with a POISON label. 




Tools, etc., shown one third size, 



Materials. — Two ounces white arsenic and 1 ounce alum mixed 
together in the bottle with enough water to give the whole the 
consistency of hasty pudding, 1 pound of good tow (to be obtained 
from a furniture dealer), a bat of best cotton, black glass eyes 
a little over \ inch in diameter (the heads of mourning pins 
of the right size will do), i pound of annealed iron wire about 
No. 22 (Standard Wire Gauge), 2 pounds corn meal, 2 pounds 
plaster of Paris, 1 pound of good clay, a spool of linen thread 
No. 40, and bird stands. 

Skinning. — Eemove all the cotton plugs which were placed 
in your specimen at the time of shooting and substitute fresh 
ones. Spread on your table a large newspaper, and you are 
ready for work. 




376 PBEPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 

1. Place the bird with its back on the paper and its head 
toward your left. With your fingers separate the feathers of 

the belly from the 
breastbone to the 
tail, and thus expose 
the bare skin which 
will be found in this 
region. With your 
knife cut through 
the skin from about 
the lower end of the 
breastbone back along the middle line of the body to the vent. 
Especial care must be taken to cut only through the skin and 
not through the membrane which covers the abdominal cavity. 

2. With the left hand lift the edge of skin toward you, 
and with the side of the knife blade press the flesh from the 
skin till you reach the knee. The first illustration ! shows 
the bird at this stage. If at this or any other time during 
the skinning process any fluid escapes, the meal is to be used 
to absorb it. 

3. Press the leg up under the skin and thus make the knee 
project; cut off the leg at this point either with the knife 
or, better, with a pair of scissors. Keverse the position of 
the bird and sever the other leg. 

4. The next step is a difficult one ; the body is to be cut off 
at the base of the tail, without cutting the skin, loosening the 
tail feathers, or opening the body cavity so that the entrails can 
escape. First separate the skin from the body as far back as 
you well can with the side of the knife and your fingers ; place 
the thumb and first finger of the left hand between the skin 
and the body near the tail ; and, holding the second or third 
finger above the tail (that is, on the lower side of the bird as 
you hold it), to feel for the action of the scissors so as not to 
cut through the skin, cut carefully between the bones and 
entirely sever the flesh. 

5. Hold the bird so that it rests with its breastbone on the 



SKINNING 



377 



table and its belly toward your right, and press the skin away 

from the back, turning it inside out as you proceed. In the 

work at this stage you will 

find that as soon as the skin 

is partly past the rump it will 

be well to hold the rump with 

the right hand and with the 

fingers of the left gently press 

the skin from the flesh. You 

will soon reach the wings, and 

your specimen will look as in 

the second illustration. 2 

6. With scissors cut off the 
wing bones close to the body. 
At this stage there is danger 
from profuse bleeding, and the 
meal must be used very freely. 
The blood must not be allowed 
to touch the feathers. Continue 
the skinning up the neck and over the head. The skinning of 
the neck is easy, but care must be taken as you press the skin 
loose from the skull. You will soon have the bird and skin as 
shown in the third illustration, 3 and the skin of the right ear, 





as shown in the figure, is to be carefully pulled from its socket 
by the aid of the point of the knife ; afterwards remove the 
skin from the other ear. 

7. The eyes now come into view, and the membrane which 



378 PBEPABATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 

joins the eyeball and skin is to be carefully cut with the scis- 
sors. In this process the eyelids must not be injured nor the 
eyeballs ruptured. The skin is next pressed from the skull 
about to the bill. The eyes are now fully exposed and can be 
readily removed without rupture by the aid of the rounded end 
of the commercial steel pen. 

8. With the scissors cut off the back part of the skull 
obliquely, as shown in the next figure, 4 and pull away the body, 
neck, and tongue from the skin. This oblique cutting with the 
scissors is performed by four cuts, — one across the roof of the 
mouth, two obliquely upward along the sides of the skull, and 
the last across the top just above the neck. Next remove the 
brain with the rounded end of the steel -pen. This can often 
be done without rupturing the surrounding membrane. If the 

tongue was not 
pulled out with 
the neck it must 
now be removed, 
together with all 
the fleshy parts 
about the base of 
the skull. 

9. Pull the leg 

and wing bones 

out the proper 

distance from the 

skin and cut away all the flesh possible. The illustration 4 will 

show how far to pull and what to remove. The base of the 

tail needs also to be cleaned of superfluous flesh. 

10. The skin is now ready to be treated. With the small 
brush, paint the arsenic mixture over every part of the skin 
and bones, being especially careful to leave a full supply wher- 
ever there is flesh. (See caution in regard to this poison on 
page 387.) 

11. Nearly fill the eye sockets with small, twisted-up wads 
of cotton, and plaster them even full of clay iu about the plastic 




STUFFING 379 

condition used by pottery workers. In the center of the clay, 
on each side, place the head of a mourning pin, or a glass eye. 
It is well to place a little clay in the top of the skull also, as 
the neck wire will be much more firmly held in place by this 
addition. 

12. The skin is now to be turned right side out, and the 
first step — that of getting the skin of the head properly and 
smoothly over the skull — is difficult for a beginner. Place 
the thumb of the left hand just where the skull is cut off, and 
with the tip of the fingers gradually and slowly work the skin 
upward and backward over the most bulging portions. As 
soon as you can reach the bill from within the skin take hold 
of it, and almost immediately the whole skin will be reversed. 

13. Take hold of the ends of legs and wings and pull them 
into place. Shake the whole skin while holding by the bill. 
Lift up the skin from the skull and thus give it a chance to 
take its exact old position. The proper adjustment of all 
feathers depends entirely upon the proper adjustment of the 
skin. The feathers will come right if you get the skin right. 
The first arrangement of the eyelids around the glass eyes 
should now be attended to. The tweezers will be found useful 
for this purpose. 

Stuffing. — 14. The wires needed should first be cut and 
both ends of each sharpened with the file. A bird should 
be successfully mounted Avith the wings closed before any 
attempt is made to mount one with the wings spread. For 
the closed wing form, three wires 7 inches long and one 4 
inches long are needed. For a spread wing, two additional 
wing wires about 5 inches long will be necessary. 

15. A body is next to be made of tow. It should be in size 
and shape as nearly as possible like the one taken from the 
bird. Take a mass of tow in your hand ; two or three trials 
will show how much is needed. Wind this with thread in 
all possible directions, and at the same time press it into 
form by the thumb and fingers of your left hand. Compare 
constantly with the bird's body. If any portion proves too 




380 PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 

small, add a little tow to the part and continue the winding. 
In the end, you should have a very firm, smooth body with 
thread nearly covering its surface. Pass one of the long wires 
through this body from the front end; then the protruding 

end should be passed back 
and its tip clinched into 
the body. Next, wind the 
neck end smoothly with 
cotton and tie a thread 
around the part which is to enter the skull. See that the 
position, length, and size of the neck are like that of the bird. 
You will now have an object in shape much like the fifth 
figure. 5 The dotted lines show how the wire goes through the 
body and is firmly clinched. 

16. The other two wires, 7 inches long, are now to be 
passed up the legs. Start the wire at the place of the join- 
ing of the toes, and slide it along the back of the tarsal bone 
to the joint; pull the tibia bone through the opening in the 
skin in such a way that you can get the wire past the joint 
and along the tibia bone. Both legs are of course to be fixed 
in the same way. 

17. The prepared body is now to be placed in the skin. 
First introduce the sharp end of the neck wire into the neck, 
and carefully guide it so that it will enter the skull. Pass 
it through the skull somewhere near the forehead. Then care- 
fully pull the skin over the body till the tail readily slips 
past the posterior end of it. 

18. The next step is the fastening of the leg wires into the 
body. Slide the wires up and down the legs till they move 
freely ; then pass them one at a time into the body just where 
the knee was found on the bird before skinned. The exact 
place is almost the center lengthwise and one fourth from the 
lower -side, — the spot marked with a small circle on the fifth 
figure. 5 The wire is to be passed through and back and 
then clinched. When both leg wires are fastened the bird will 
appear as shown in the sixth figure. 6 



STUFFING 



381 



19. After a little lifting of the skin, pulling out of the 
wings, and sliding up of the legs, so that the upper end of 
the tibia bone comes to its proper position against the body, 
close the skin along 
the belly and, if 
necessary, sew it 
with a stitch or two. 
The legs extend out 
straight behind, and 
in this condition the 
bird is to be placed 
on the stand. The 
two holes for the 
leg wires should be 
about one inch 
apart. These holes 
are made with the 
small brad awl. 
Introduce the leg 
wires, and, when the feet rest properly on the crosspiece, bend 
the wires below so that the bird is held firmly. 

20. The bird is now to be given position and form. First 
bend the leg wires at the heel and knee ; then slide down the 
head so that the neck is not too long, and give the head and 
neck their proper position and form. 

21. The last wire is next to be used to set the tail. Bend it 
upon itself so as to make a staple-like form about a half inch 
wide and nearly 2 inches long. Pass this through the skin 
at the base of and under the tail and then into the body, and 
bend it, if necessary, so that the tail will rest upon it and hide 
it. The under tail coverts will hide the wire. Lift the wings, 
stretch them out, and move them back against the body till 
you find the feathers taking proper position around them. 
Pin each in place with about three pins. In fixing the second 
wing, care must be taken that it matches the one already 
fastened. Wherever any feathers seem out of place or twisted. 




382 



PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 



a proper use of the tweezers in lifting the skin and pulling the 
twisted feathers will make them all right. Go over the whole 
surface of the body — practice will give you the knack — 
and get all the plumage in shape. Leave the feathers some- 
what open and fluffy, as is natural for this bird. The legs 
and neck are to be bent till the position of body suits you. 
Your first bird will be apt to have too long a neck and too 

much of its legs exposed. 
As a rule, the tibiae of the 
sparrows do not show at 
all, and even the heel is 
well within the feathers. 

22. Before putting the 
bird away to dry, most 
writers on taxidermy ad- 
vise the winding of the 
whole surface with thread, 
so that the shrinking of the 
skin over the rough body 
will not force the feathers 
into poor positions. If this 
is done, the thread should 
be so lightly drawn as to 
barely touch the feathers. 
The usual method is to 
stick a number of pins into 
the body ; hook a loop of thread around one of these pins, 
and then wind it back and forth from pin to pin in all direc- 
tions till all the plumage is properly held in place. 

If there is a well-formed, smooth body, and each part of the 
skin occupies its proper place on that body, the drying of 
the skin will not twist or displace the feathers. A well- 
mounted bird needs but little, if any, winding. There is apt 
to be too much of this work, to the detriment of the specimen. 
Let the feathers have a natural, that is, generally, an open 
appearance. Watch a caged canary, and see the different 




STUFFING 



383 




positions it takes, and the frequency with which its feathers 
are ruffled. 

23. The bird, whether wound with thread or not, should be 
left for several days to 



dry in some place free 
from dust. The thread 
should then be re- 
moved, the extra pins 
pulled out, and the 
head wire and the pins 
holding the wings in 
place cut off as close 
to the skin as possible 
so that the feathers will hide them from view. The bird is 
now finished, and should appear as in the seventh figure. 7 

After preparing two or three good specimens in this posi- 
tion, you will be ready to undertake the mounting of a spread 
wing. In this case, the two wires, five inches long, are to be 

passed along the bones 
of the different joints 
of the wings. This is 
to a beginner a diffi- 
cult process ; there 
seem to be too little 
flesh and too many 
bones and joints. The 
only cautions that can 
be given are that the 
wires must be kept 
straight, the wing so 
pulled out as to 
straighten the joints, 
and the finger and 
thumb of the left hand must keep the point of the wire within 
the skin. This wiring of the wings is to be done at the same 
time as the wiring of the legs (stage 16). Insert the wing 




384 



PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 



wires into the tow body just before you insert those of the legs 
(stage 18). The position for the entrance of these wires is 
found by examining the place where the wings were cut off 
from the body. The proper locality for both wing and leg 
wires is shown in the illustration of the tow body (page 380) 
by small circles. The wing wires need some clinching after 
being passed through the tow body, though this is not so im- 
portant as the firm 
fixing of the leg 
wires. 

When a success- 
ful flying bird has 
been prepared, 8 a 
slight modification 
of the* plan will en- 
able the student to 
give a male the strutting position. 9 After this he is ready to 
undertake the mounting of birds in all kinds of natural atti- 
tudes. Probably as difficult a one as any is that of gathering 
food from the ground. 10 




GENERAL HINTS ABOUT THE MOUNTING OF BIRDS 

Cleaning blood from feathers. — No matter how small the 
shot used, there will occasionally be blood spots to be removed. 
This can be easily done when the blood is fresh. In the worst 
of cases, with the blood dry and the feathers white, the stains 
can all be removed if sufficient time and care be given to the 
work. Wash the spots thoroughly with warm water (and soap 
also if necessary), and dry with abundance of plaster of Paris. 
After the moisture has been all absorbed, the plaster is to be 
completely dusted from the feathers. 

Birds difficult to skin. — Birds with large heads and small 
necks, as the ducks and woodpeckers, will not allow the neck 
skin to pass over the head. In these cases, the skin of the 
neck has to be so split open as to allow the head to be skinned 
and the brain to be removed. Birds with firm, close feathers, 



HINTS ABOUT MOUNTING 385 

as the doves, need to be skinned while perfectly fresh, and 
with great care, or the plumage will come off from the skin in 
patches. All large birds are difficult to skin, and many of 
them need the constant use of the knife to separate the skin 
from the flesh. All such birds should be suspended from some 
support by passing a hook (a bent wire nail forms a good one) 
through the rump. The bird should be suspended as soon as 
the tail is severed, and then the skinning should be started 
along the back (stages 4 and 5). 

Stuffing for large birds. — Excelsior is the best material for 
all large bodies, although a little good tow spread over its sur- 
face and thoroughly wound down makes it still better. 

Legs and wings. — All birds with the tibia exposed should 
have the leg wire and tibia bone wound together with the 
proper amount of cotton (stage 16). The wings of large birds 
are also better if cotton is wound around the bones to take the 
place of the flesh removed. 

Necks. — Afost birds need to have the neck stuffed out. This 
is done with the long wire set in a handle. Either chopped 
tow or cotton is forced into the mouth and down the throat 
(stage 21). 

Sizes of wire. — The size of wire needed depends more upon 
the length of the legs and of the neck than upon the size of the 
body ; thus a crane should have much heavier wire than a loon, 
and the yellow-legs needs as large wire as the blue-winged teal. 
The sizes given in the following table are those of the " stand- 
ard wire gauge." 

Bird No. of Wire Bird No. of Wire 



Hummingbirds 28 

Kinglets and Warblers 24 

Sparrows 22 

Thrushes 20 

Average Snipes 18 



Ducks and Long-legged Snipe. ..16 

Swans and Geese 14 

Smaller Herons 12 

Larger Herons 10 



Bird eyes. — Most bird eyes are practically black, and for 
these, glass-headed mourning pins are both good and cheap. 
A few birds have peculiarly colored eyes, yellow, blue, red, 
apgak's birds. — 25 



386 PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 

white, etc., and for these especially made glass bird eyes 
should be purchased. Care should be taken that eyes of the 
proper color are procured for each bird. 

Shot for large birds. — Hunters who merely shoot to kill 
generally use shot of large size. The ornithologist, who desires 
good specimens or none, will soon find that very small shot 
will do. Even ducks, whose plumage is so abundant and close, 
can be killed with No. 8 or No. 10 shot. The author once 
secured a surf scoter with dust shot. Of course this. was possi- 
ble only under unusual circumstances. The bird flew from 
under a bank in a line directly away from the author, and had 
reached a distance of only a few feet when aimed at. 

Stretching the skin. — The skin should not be stretched. In 
skinning large birds, suspended from a hook, the weight of 
material, if allowed to hang down upon the neck, will cause 
the skin to lengthen, and thus distort the shape. This should 
be carefully guarded against. Do not pull the skin from the 
flesh, but rather press with the fingers and work with the 
knife so that there is no stain upon the skin itself. 

Spread wings and crests. — While the bird is drying, some 
support must be given to spreading parts, or they will droop in 
such a way as to render the bird unsightly. Cotton, held in 
place by wire or pins, is the best material for this purpose. 

Spreading the tail feathers. — If the tail feathers are to be 
widely spread, or, in fact, spread at all, a piece of wire bent 
upon itself in the form of a staple, and placed across the tail, 
with one prong above and the other below, can be so manipu- 
lated with the fingers as to hold the feathers in place till the 
bird is dry. Another method is to pass a fine-pointed wire 
through all the feathers near their bases (through the hollow 
portion), and move each feather along this wire till its position 
is satisfactory. A third plan is to reverse the position of 
each feather before setting it away to dry. Bring the central 
feather below and force each outer pair above the preceding 
pair. After the bird is dry the feathers are snapped back into 
their proper places. 



HINTS ABOUT MOUNTING 387 

Birds for study and analysis. — If the birds are to be used in 
class work, the toes should be carefully spread apart and held 
in place by pins till dry, so that the amount of growing to- 
gether of joints and the amount of webbing, if any, can be easily 
determined. The mouth should also be left slightly open. A 
good plan is to place a piece of a wooden toothpick between the 
mandibles, and, if necessary, pass a needle and thread through 
the nostrils and tie the thread under the bill. To insure the 
slight elevation of the wings necessary to determine the char- 
acter of the first primary, place a little cotton under their 
lower edges before introducing the pins to hold them in place. 

Bird stands. — Ground birds and water birds should be placed 
on flat boards, while most perching birds are better if placed 
on bird stands, like the one shown in the illustration of the 
mounted English sparrow (p. 382). If the birds are to be 
handled by students, the bottoms in all cases should be large 
enough to preclude the possibility of their being upset. 

Finishing the specimen. — After the bird is thoroughly dry, 
all the projecting wires, pins, etc., are to be carefully cut off. 
The wire-cutting pincers must work well, so as to completely 
sever the wires below the surface feathers. Any twisting or 
bending of the wires in an attempt to break off the parts 
which the cutting pliers have left will be sure to disturb and 
injure some part of the specimen. 

Bare skin. — The bill, legs, and other parts not covered with 
feathers will change color and lose brightness ; so, sometimes 
these parts are painted and varnished. In some cases a little 
of this work is necessary, but generally it is not advisable. 

Poison. — Great care must be taken not to get the arsenic 
into any cut there may be on the hands. If there are any 
openings in the skin they should be covered with strips of 
court-plaster. As soon as possible after finishing a bird, the 
hands should be thoroughly washed and all material carefully 
removed from under the nails. 

Sewing the skin together. — All large birds need to have the 
skin along the abdomen carefully sewed together. 



388 PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 

Determination of sex. — The sex of the specimens should be 
determined by dissection. The sexual organs are situated be- 
tween the intestines and the backbone at about the middle of 
the body, but somewhat on the left side. These organs are 
large and easily recognized in the spring. The male organs 
(the testes) are two in number, light, yellowish-white in color, 
somewhat elongated in form, and, in the English sparrow, in 
spring, about the size of large peas. 1 The female organs (the 
ovaries) are clusters of different sized, globular, grape- 
like parts, united together in a membrane. 2 The 
English sparrow is a good species to learn from, 
because the plumage of the head and neck enables one 
to distinguish the sex before dissection. The best 
place to cut the body open is along the left side ; then 
by lifting the intestines the sexual organs can be seen. 
By beginning in the spring and opening a sparrow of each sex 
each month throughout the year a better knowledge of these 
organs will be obtained, and an easier recognition of them in all 
conditions than by any amount of description or illustration. 

Cleaning eggs. Instruments, etc., needed. — Two or three egg 
drills of different sizes ; two or three blow-pipes of different 
sizes ; a very slender pair of scissors made for the purpose ; 
light spring forceps ; a hook formed of a bent needle mounted 
in a handle ; a basin of water ; some cotton. The proper instru- 
ments can be obtained from any of the dealers in naturalists' 
supplies. 

If the egg is fresh a small hole, a little larger than the point 
of the smallest blow-pipe, should be carefully drilled in the side. 
Introduce the blow-pipe about a sixteenth of an inch, and blow 
gently and steadily till the contents are removed. Fill the 
mouth with water and blow this into and out from the egg so 
as to rinse it thoroughly. Place the egg with the hole down- 
ward on some cotton to dry. 

If the egg contains an embryo it will be necessary to drill 
a larger hole in the side so that the hook, scissors, and forceps 
can be used as they are needed. Afterwards thoroughly rinse 



COLLECTION OF NESTS 389 

and drain the shell as above described. The work in this case 
should be performed over the basin of water so as to catch the 
egg if it slips from the fingers. 

As stated in Part I no eggs should ever be gathered till the 
species of bird has been identified with certainty. On the egg, 
near the hole, mark with a lead pencil the number of the bird 
according to the A. 0. U. check list. This is the number 
within the parenthesis next to the scientific name in Part II. 

Collecting and preserving nests. — Such well-woven nests as 
those of the orioles and vireos should be removed from the 
plant by cutting the branches to which they are attached. 
These will keep in good condition without any preparation. 
Others need to be kept from falling to pieces by some artificial 
support. A good and easy method is to sew loosely with 
brown thread back and forth over all parts of the nest. An- 
other plan is to make a supporting basket out of annealed 
wire. 




GLOSSARY 



Aberrant. Deviating from the usual character. 

Acute. Ending in a well-defined angle, usually a sharp one. 

Angulated. Forming an angle ; applied to the mouth of birds 
when the direction of the gape suddenly changes at the 
rictus. 

Ashy. A bluish-gray color ; about the color of wood ashes. 

Axillary plumes. A distinct tuft of feathers, under the wing- 
where it joins the body. 

Back. As generally restricted, the upper part of the body of the bird, 
half way along the mass of flesh (see p. 40) ; as used in Part II. , 
most of the upper parts, but usually not including wings, tail, or 
crown. 

Barred. With cross bands of distinct colors. 

Base. The part of bill or quill attached to 
the flesh. 

Belly. The under parts back of the breast, but not including the tail 
coverts (see p. 40). 

Blotched. Furnished with rounded spots of a different color. 

Blunt. Rounded ; the opposite of acute. 

Booted. Applied to the tarsus of birds when the usual scales 
along the front are so grown together as to seem con- 
tinuous. 

Bristles. Small hair-like feathers. 

Bronzy. Having a metallic appear- 
ance like tarnished brass. 

Buffy. A light, dull, brownish-yellow. 

!The terms defined in Part I. include all that are generally nsed in bird 
descriptions. The words in this glossary are supplementary to those in Part I. 
and are intended chiefly for use in connection with field study of birds. 

391 



392 



GLOSSARY 




Cap. The top of the head when of a distinct color. 

Cere. A peculiar covering of the bill of birds of prey extend- s^&\ <Q 

ing beyond the nostrils. (^ c= ^/ > 

Cheek. The side of the head back of and below the eye. 
Chin. The part of the head just below the bill (see p. 40). 
Claw. The nail of the toe. 

Collar. A colored band extending more or less around the lower neck. 
Compressed. Flattened sideways. 
Conical. Cone-shaped, as the bills of many birds. 
Coniferous. Trees which bear cones, as the pines. 
Convex. Bulging outward, as the top and bottom ridges of 

some bills. 
Coverts. The small feathers covering the bases of the larger 

quills of wing and tail. 
Creamy. A light pinkish-yellow color like rich cream. 
Crest. A tuft of feathers on the top of the head ; these can 

be raised or lowered at will. 
Crissum. The under tail coverts (see p. 40). 
Crown. The top of the head (see p. 40). 

Crustaceans. Animals with jointed covering, as the crab and lobster. 
Culmen. The ridge of the upper mandible ; as a measure of the length of 

the bill, it is the straight distance from the feathers on the forehead to 

the tip of the bill (see p. 14). 

Decurved. Bent downward in a regular manner. 

Depressed. Flattened at the top and bottom ; a depressed bill 

is wider than high. 
Dusky. A dark color of no especial shade. 

Erectile. Capable of being raised, as the crest of a bird. 
Exserted. Extending beyond the rest, as the central tail 
feathers of some sandpipers. 

Fauna. The animal life of a region. 

Flanks. The posterior portion of the sides of a bird (see p. 40). 

Forehead. The portion of the head just above the bill (see p. 40). 

Forked. Deeply notched as the tails of many birds. 

Fulvous. A yellowish-brown. 

Fuscous. A dark or blackish-brown of rather indefinite shade. 

Gape. The opening of the mouth. 

Genus. A closely related group ; this close relationship is represented by 
giving to all members the same scientific name as far as the first word 
is concerned ; this portion being called the generic name. 





GLOSSARY 393 

Graduated tail. One in which the middle pair of feathers is 

longest, and each successive pair gradually shorter. 
Grooves. Furrows. 

Habitat. The region or locality inhabited by a species. 

Hooked bills. Bills having the point more or less 
abruptly bent downwards. 

Horizontal. Level ; on a line with the horizon. 

Horny. Of a material like the finger nail. 

Hybrids. An intermediate form between two species caused by inter- 
breeding. 

Impaling. The killing of an animal by striking it on a sharp point. 
Inner secondaries. The feathers fastened to the joint of the 

whig at the elbow. In the illustration these are length- $■ 

ened. 
Inner toe. The inner one of the front toes (see p. 40). 
Inserted. Fastened or grown to. 
Iridescent. Exhibiting a play of colors like those of the rainbow. 

Lobate toes. Those furnished with projecting flaps. 
Lobes. Membranous flaps. 

Lores. The spaces between the eye and bill, often free from "^ 
feathers in water birds. 

Mandible. One of the two parts of the bill, called upper and lower man- 
dibles (see p. 14). 

Margined toes. Those furnished with a ridge-like border 
not wide enough to be called lobate. 

Marine. Pertaining to salt water. 

Membranes. Skin-like parts. 

Metallic. Having the appearance of metal, or with the luster of polished 
metal. 

Migratory. Accustomed to move to different countries at different seasons. 

Molt. The periodical shedding of feathers. 

Mollusks. Soft-bodied animals usually inclosed in shells, as snails and 
mussels. 

Mottled. Marked with different colors in a blotched manner. 

Nails. The horny appendages to the toes (see p. 40). 

Nape. The part of the head just back of the crown (see p. 40). 

Nasal. Pertaining to the nostril. 





394 



GLOSSARY 






Nocturnal birds. Those which fly and feed by night. 
Nostrils. The external openings in the upper mandible. 

Oblique. Slanting or crossing diagonally as the grooves on 

the bill of the puffin. 
Ochraceous. A brownish-orange color ; of the color of yellow 

ocher or a little darker. 
Olive. A greenish-brown color like that of pickled olives. 
Outer toe. The outside one of the three front toes (see p. 40) . 

Pectinated nail. A nail furnished with saw-like teeth. 
Perching. Lighting or resting on the twigs of plants. 
Plumage. The general feathering of the body. 

Primary. Any of the quills attached to the outer joint of the wing. 
The outer one of all is the first primary (see p. 23). 

Quills. The larger feathers of wings and tail (often restricted to include 
only the primaries of the wing) . 

Recurved. Bent backward. 

Reticulate. Forming or resembling a network. 

Rictal. Pertaining to the rear portion of the mouth. 

Rictus. The back or rear of the mouth (see p. 14). 

Rufous. Rusty or reddish-brown ; the color of the usual red brick. 

Rump. The rear portion of the back (see p. 40). 

Rusty. A brownish-red ; the color of the rust formed on iron. 



Scapulars. The tuft of shoulder feathers; the enlarged 

feathers at the inner part of the wing next the back. 
Scutellae. The nearly square scales along the front of most 

tarsi. Scutellate, having scutella. 
Secondaries. The quills of the second joint of the wing (see 

p. 23). 
Sepia-brown. A blackish-brown. 
Serration. Saw-tooth-like notches. 
Shaft. The midrib of a feather. 

Slate color. A dark gray with less bluish than lead color. 
Speculum. A bright-colored area on the secondaries of many 

ducks (S in the cut). 
Spinous feathers. Those with thorn-like projecting tips. 

Talons. The larger claws or nails of ihe toes of birds of prey. 
Tarsus. The first joint of the leg above the toes. 





GLOSSABY 395 

Tawny. A dark yellow ; the color of tanned leather. 
Terrestrial. Pertaining to the ground. 

Tertials. Usually applied to the inner secondaries if enlarged or peculi- 
arly colored (see p. 23). 
Transverse. Turned across ; running hi a cross direction. 
Truncate. With a square tip. 
Tubercle. A knob-like projection. 

Vane. The whole of a feather excepting the midrib or shaft 

Washings. Tintings. 

Webs of toes. The skin-like membranes extend- 
ing from toe to toe. 

Webs of feathers. The spreading portion at either side of 
the midrib or shaft. 

Wing bar. Peculiar strips of color across the base of 
wings, formed by the tips of the wing coverts, 

Zone. A cross-bar on a feather when very wide. 




INDEX 



Acanthis hornemannii exilipes 118 

linaria 118 

linaria holboellii 118 

linaria rostrata 118 
Accipiter atricapillus 199 

cooperii 199 

velox 198 
Actitis macularia 248 
iEchmophorus occidentalis 345. 
^Egialitis meloda 232 

meloda circuincincta 232 

montana 233 

nivosa 232 

semipalmata 231 

vocifera 231 

wilsonia 233 
Aeronautes melanoleucus 168 
^Estrelata hasitata 317 
Agelaius phoeniceus 146 

phoeniceus bryanti 146 

phoeniceus sonoriensis 146 
Aix sponsa 303 
Ajaja ajaja 275 
Alauda arvensis 158 
Alaudidae 156 
Albatross, Wandering 319 

Yellow-nosed 320 
Alca torda 340 
Alcedinidae 179 
Alcida? 337 
Alle alle 341 
Amazilia cerviniventris 167 

fuscicaudata 167 
Ammodramus bairdii 124 

caudaeutus 126 

caudacutus neisoni 126 

caudaeutus subvirgatus 126 

henslowii 125 

leconteii 125 



Ammodramus maritimus 126 

maritimus peninsulae 127 

nigrescens 127 

princeps 123 

sandwichensis alaudinus 124 

sandwichensis savanna 124 

savannaruni passerinus 124 

savannarum perpallidus 125 
Anipelidse 103 
Ampelis cedrorum 103 

garrulus 103 
Anas americana 300 

boschas 297 

carolinensis 300 

crecca 301 

cyanoptera 301 

discors 301 

fulvigula 298 

f ulvigula maculosa 299 

obscura 298 

penelope 299 

strepera 299 
Anatidse 276 
Anatinas 297 
Anbinga anhinga 311 
Anhingida? 311 
Ani 181 

Groove-billed 181 
Anous stolidus 328 
Anser albifrons gambeli 281 
An seres 276 
Anserinae 280 
Anthus pensilvanicus 70 

spragueii 71 
Antrostomus carolinensis 169 

vociferus 169 
Aphelocoma rloridana 153 
Apbrizidae 228 
Aquila cbrysaetos 205 

397 



398 



INDEX 



Aramidse 260 
Aramus giganteus 260 
Archibuteo ferrugineus 205 

lagopus sancti-johannis 201 
Ardea cserulea 268 

candidissima 267 

egretta 266 

herodias 266 

occidentalis 265 

rufescens 268 

tricolor rufieollis 268 

virescens 269 

wardi 266 
Ardeidre 263 
Ardetta exilis 265 

neoxena 265 
Arenaria interpres 228 
Asio accipitrinus 185 

wilsonianus 185 
Asturina plagiata 201 
Auk, Little 311 

Razor-billed 310 
Avocet, American 250 

avocets 250 
Aythya affinis 288 

americana 286 

collaris 288 

marila nearctica 287 

vallisneria 287 

Baldpate 300 
Barn Owl 192 
Bartramia longicauda 217 
Beetlehead 230 
Bill 16 

Appendages of 17, 19 

Covering 17 

Form 20 

Parts 16 

Size 20 
Birds in the field, Study of 319 

Aids 352 

Example in use of Key 351 

First ones to study 351 

General- Hints 352 

Key for 355 

Localities 350 

Local lists 352 

Methods of study 350 

Method of using Key 353 

Seasons 351 



Birds in the field, Special features to 
examine 351 

Time of day 351 

Winter work 352 
Birds, Preparation of specimen 373 

Cleaning blood from feathers 381 

Difficult specimens to skin 381 

Eyes 385 

Instruments to use 371 

Killing 371, 386 

Materials needed 375 

Poison 387 

Sex 388 

Skinning 375 

Spreading tail feathers 386 

Spreading wings 383, 386 

Stands for 387 

Stretching skin 386 

Stuffing 379, 385 

Winding 382 

Wire for 385 
Birds of Prey 181 
Bittern, American 264 
Cory's Least 265 
Least 265 
Bitterns 263 
Blackbird, Brewer's 119 

Bahaman Redwing 116 

Blue-headed 11!) 

Crow 150 

Red-winged 116 

Rusty 119 

Sonoran Redwing 116 

Swamp 116 

Yellow-headed 115 
Blackbirds, Crow 112 

Marsh 112 
Black-breast 230, 212 
Black-head 288 

Little 288 
Black Warrior 201 
Bluebill 288 
Bluebird 55 

Mountain 55 
Blue Jay 153 
Blue Peter 260 
Blue Stocking 251 
Bobolink 144 
Bob-white 222 

Florida 222 

Texan 222 



INDEX 



399 



Bog-bull 264 
Bonasa uuibellus 224 

umbellus togata 224 
Booby 312 

Botaurus leutiginosus 264 
Brant 282 

Black 283 
Branta bernicla 282 

canadensis 281 

canadensis butcbinsii 282 

canadensis minima 282 

leucopsis 283 

nigricans 283 
Broadbill 302 
Brown Thrasber 66 
Bubo virginianus 188 

virginianus arcticus 189 

virginianus subarcticus 189 
Bubonidae 184 
Bumebead 290 
Bull-bat 170 
Bunting, Bay-winged 123 

Black-throated 141 

Indigo 139 

Lark 141 

Lazuli 139 

Painted 139 

Snow 121 

Varied 140 
Burgomaster 330 
Butcber-bird 102 
Buteo abbreviatus 202 

albicaudatus sennetti 202 

borealis 200 

borealis calurus 201 

borealis harlani 201 

borealis kriderii 201 

bracbyurus 203 

latissimus 203 

line at us 201 

liueatus alleni 201 

swainsoni 202 
Butter-ball 291 
Buzzard, Turkey 213 
Buzzards 193 

Calamospiza melanocorys 141 
Calcarius lapponicus 121 

ornatus 122 

pictus 122 
Calico-back 229 



Calidris arenaria 243 
Callipepla squamata 222 
Callothrus robust us 145 
Campepbilus principalis 173 
Camptolaimus labradorius 285 
Canary 82 
Canvas-back 287 
Caprimulgidae 168 
Caracara, Audubon's 211 
Cardinal 137 

Texas 137 
Cardinalis cardinalis 137 
Carduelis carduelis 120 
Carpodacus purpureus 116 
Catbird 65 

Catbarista atrata 213 
Catbartes auro 212 
Cathartidae 212 
Cedar-bird 104 

Centrocercus urophasianus 227 
Ceopbloeus pileatus 176 
Ceppbus grylle 339 

mandtii 339 
Certbia familiaris americana 63 
Certbiidse 63 
Ceryle alcyon 179 

americana septentrionalis 180 

torquata 179 
Cbacbalaca 219 
Chaetura pelagica 167 
Charadriidae 229 
Cbaradrius dominicus 231 

squatarola 230 
Charitonetta albeola 290 
Chat, Yellow-breasted 93 
Chebec 166 

Cbelidon erythrogastra 106 
Chen coerulescens 281 

hyperborea 280 

hyperborea nivalis 281 
Cherry-bird 104 
Chewink 136 
Chickadee 61 

Black-capped 62 

Carolina 62 

Hudsonian 62 

southern 62 
Chickadees 58 
Chippy 131 

Winter 130 
Chondestes grammacus 127 






400 



INDEX 



Chordeiles acutipennis texensis 171 

Virginian us 170 

virginianus chapraani 171 

virginianus benryi 171 
Chuck-will's-widow 169 
Ciconiidfe 271 
Cii'cus hudsonius 198 
Cistothorus marianae 70 

palustris 69 

palustris griseus 70 

stellaris 69 
Clangula hyemalis 291 
Clape 178 

Clivicola riparia 107 ' 
Cocothraustes vespertinus 115 
Coccyges 179 
Coccyzus americanus 182 

erythropthalmus 182 

minor 182 

minor maynardi 182 
Coereba bahamensis 44 
Ccerebidre 44 
Colaptes auratus 178 
Colinus virginianus 222 

virginianus floridanus 222 

virginianus texanus 222 
Coluniba tlavirostris 215 

leucocepbala 215 
Columbse2I4 
Columbidse 214 
Columbigallina passerina terrestris 

217 
Colymbus auritus 346 

dominicus 347 

holboellii 346 

nigricollis californicus 347 
Compsothlypis americana 80 

nigrilora 81 
Contopus borealis 163 

ricbardsonii 164 

virens 163 
Conurus carolinensis 183 
Coot, American 259 

Black 294 

Sea 295 

White-winged 294 
Coots 254, 294, 295 
Cormorant 309 

Double-crested 310 

Florida 310 

Mexican 310 



Corvidae 151 

Corvus americanus 155 

americanus floridanus 155 

corax principalis 154 

cryptoleucus 155 
Corvus ossifragus 156 
Courlan 260, 261 
Cowbird 144 

Dwarf 145 

Red-eyed 145 
Coverts 25 
Cracidae 219 
Crake, Common 258 

Corn 258 

Little Black 258 

Yellow 258 
Crane, Blue 266 

Brown 262 

Little Brown 262 

Sandhill 262 

White 262 

Whooping 261 
Cranes 261 
Creeper, Bahama Honey 44 

Black and White 76 

Brown 63 
Creepers 44, 63 
Crex crex 258 
Crossbill, American 116 

Red 117 

White-winged 117 
Crotophaga ani 181 

sulcirostris 181 
Crow, American 155 

Fish 156 

Florida 155 

Rain 182 
Crows 152 
Crying-bird 261 
Crymopbilus f ulicarius 252 
Cuckoo, Black-billed 182 

Ground 182 

Mangrove 182 

Mavnard's 182 

Yellow-billed, 182 
Cuculidae 180 
Curassows 219 
Curlew, Eskimo 2-19 

Hudsonian 249 

Jack 249 

Long-billed 249 



INDEX 



401 



Curlew. Pink 275 

Small 249 

Spanish 273 
Curlews 235 

Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus 156 
Cyanocitta cristata 153 

cristata norincola 153 
Cygninae 278 

Cymodroma grallaria 319 
Cyrtonyx montezumse 223 



Dab-chick 348 

Dafila acuta 302 

Darters 311 

Dendragapus canadensis 223 

obscurus 223 
Dendrocygna autumnalis 284 

fulva 283 
Dendroica aestiva 82 

auduhoni 83 

blackburniae 86 

cserulea 84 

caerulescens 82 

castanea 85 

chrysoparia 74, 87 

coronata 83 

discolor 89 

dominica 86 

dominica alhilora 87 

kirtlandi 87 

maculosa 83 

palm arum, 88 

palmarum hypochrysea 89 

pensylvanica 84 

striata 85 

tigrina 81 

vigorsii 88 

virens 87 
Dickcissel 141 
Diedapper 348 
Diomedea exulans 319 
Dioniedeidse 319 
Dipper 291, 348 
Diving birds 337 
Dolichonyx oryzivorus 144 
Dough-bird 249 
Dove, Blue-headed Quail 218 

Ground 217. 

Inca 218 

Key West Quail 218 



Dove, Mourning 216 

Quail 218 

Scaled 218 

Sea 341 

Turtle 216 

White-fronted 217 

White-winged 217 

Wild 216 

Zenaida 216 
Dovekie 341 
Dowitcher 238 

Long-billed 238 

Western 239 
Dryobates borealis 174 

pubescens 173 

scalaris bairdi 174 

villosus 173 

villosus audubonii 173 
Duck, American Golden-eye 288 

American Scaup 287 

Baldpate300 

Barrow's Golden-eye 289 

Black 298 

Black-bellied Tree 284 

Black-head 288 

Broad-bill 302 

Buffle-head 290 

Butter-ball 291 

Canvas-back 287 

Coot 294, 295 

Crow 260 

Dusky 298 

Eider 292, 293 

Fish 304, 305 

Florida 298 

Fulvous Tree 283 

Gadwall 299 

Garrot 289, 290 

Golden-eye 288 

Goosander, 305 

Gray 299 

Greater Scaup 288 

Green-head 298 

Harlequin 291 

Labrador 285 

Lesser Scaup 288 

Long-tail 291 

Mallard 297 

Masked 296 

Merganser 304, 305 

Mottled 299 



apgae's birds. — 26 



402 



INDEX 



Duck, Old Squaw 291 

Old AVif e 291 

Pintail 302 

Redhead 286 

Ring-necked 288 

Ruddy 295 

Sawbill 350 

Scaup 287, 288 

Scoter 294, 295 

Shelldrake 305 

Shoveller 302 

South-southerly 291 

Spirit 291 

Spoon-hill 302 

Sprigtail 303 

Summer 304 

Teal 300, 301 

Tree 283, 284 

Whistler 289 

Widgeon 299, 300 

Wood 303 
Ducks, Fish 278, 304 

River 277, 297 

Sea 277, 284 
Dunlin 242 

Eagle, Bald 206 

Golden 205 

Harpy 206 
Eagles 193 

Ectopistes migratorius 215 
Eggs, cleaning 388 

collecting 36 
Egret, American 266 

Reddish 268 

Snowy 267 
Eider, American 292 

King 293 

Northern 292 
Elanoides forficatus 196 
Elan us leucurus 196 
Embernagra rufivirgata 135 
Empidonax dificilis 164 

flaviventris 164 

minimus 165 

traillii 165 

traillii alnorum 165 

virescens 164 
Ereunetes occidentalis 243 

pusillus 242 
Erismatura rubida 295 



Euetheia bicolor 140 
canora 140 

Falco columbarius 208 

dominicensis 210 

fusco-ccerulescens 209 

islandus 207 

mexicanus 207 

peregrinus anatum 208 

richardsonii 209 

rusticolus 207 

rusticolus gyrfalco 207 

rusticolus ohsoletus 207 

sparverius 210 
Falcon, aplomado 209 

Peregrine 208 

Prairie 207 

Rusty-crowned 210 
Falconidai 192 
Falcons 193 
Feathers 9 

Kinds of 10 

Location of 12 

Parts of 10 
Field, Study of Birds in the 349 
Finch, Grass 123 

Green 136 

Pine 119 

Purple 116 
Firebird 148 
First Primary 24 
Fish Ducks 278, 304 
Flamingo, American 275 
Flicker 178 
Flycatcher, Acadian 165 

Alder 165 

Crested 161 

Derby 161 

Fork-tailed 160 

Great-crested 162 

Green-crested 164 

Least 165 

Mexican Crested 162 

Olive-sided 163 

Scissor-tailed 159 

Traill's 165 

Vermilion 159 

Western 164 

Yellow-bellied 164 
Fratercula arctica 338 
Fregata aquila 307 



INDEX 



403 



Fregatidse 306 
Fringillidae 109 
Fulica amerieana 259 
Fuligulinae 284 
Fulmar 315 

Lesser 316 
Fulmars 314 
Fulmarus glacialis 315 • 

glacialis minor 316 
Fute 249 

Gadwall 299 

Galeoscoptes carolinensis 65 
Gallinaceous Birds 219 
Gallinre 219 
Gallinago delicata 237 
Gallinula galeata 259 
Gallinule, Common 259 

Florida 259 

Purple 259 
Gallinules 254 
Gannet 312, 313 
Garrot 289, 290 
Gavia alba 329 
Geese 276, 280 
Gelochelidon nilotica 323 
Geococcyx californianus 182 
Geotklypis agilis 92 

formosa 91 

Philadelphia 92 

trichas 93 

trichas ignota 93 

trichas occidentalis 93 
Geotrygon martinica 218 
Glaucidium phalrenoides 191 
Glaucionetta clangula amerieana 288 

islandica 289 
Guatcatcher, Blue-gray 57 
Gnatcatchers 56 
Goatsuckers 168 
Godwit, Hudsonian 244 

Marbled 244 
Godwits 234 
Golden-eye, American 288 

Barrow's 289 
Goldfinch, American 118 

Arkansas, 119 

European 120 
Goosander 305 
Goose, American White-fronted 281 

Barnacle 283 



I Goose, Blue 281 

Brant 282, 283 

Cackling 282 

Canada 281 

Greater Snow 280 

Hutchins's 282 

Lesser Snow 280 

Solon 313 
Goshawk, American 199 

Mexican 204 
Grackle, Boat-tailed 151 

Bronzed 150 

Florida 150 

Great-tailed 150 

Purple 150 

Rusty 149 
Grackles 142 
Grassquit 140 

Melodious 140 
Grebe, American Eared 347 

Holbcell's 346 

Horned 346 

Pied-billed 348 

Red-necked 346 

St. Domingo 347 

AVestern 345 
Greenback 231 
Greenhead 298 
Greenlet 96, 97 (See Yireo) 
Greenshank 236 
Grosbeak, Black-headed 138 

Blue 138 

Cardinal 137 

Evening 115 

Pine 115 

Rose-breasted 137 

Texas 137 
Grouse, Canada 223 

Canadian Ruffed 224 

Dusky 223 

Pinnated 226 

Prairie Sharp-tailed 226 

Ruffed 224 

Sage 227 
Gruidse 261 
Grus amerieana 261 

canadensis 262 

mexicana 262 
Guara alba 273 

rubra 273 
Guillemot, Black 339 



404 



INDEX 



Guillemot, Common 339 

Mandt's 339 
Guiraca cserulea 138 
Gull, American Herring 331 

Black-headed 332 

Bonaparte's 333 

Burgomaster 330 

European Herring 332 

Franklin's 333 

Glaucous 330 

Great Black-backed 331 

Herring 331, 332 

Iceland 330 

Ivory 329 

Kittiwake 329 

Kumlien's 330 

Laughing 332 

Little 328 

Ring-billed 332 

Sabine's 333 

Saddle-back 331 
Gulls 321, 328 
Gyrfalcon 207 

Black 207 

Gray 207 

White 207 

Habia ludoviciana 137 

melanocephala 138 
Hrematopodida? 228 
Haematopus palliatus 228 
Hagdon 316 

Black 317 
Hair-bird 131 

Haliaeetus leucocephalus 206 
Hangnest 148 
Harporhyncus curvirostris 64 

longirostris sennetti 66 

rufus 66 
Harrier, Marsh 198 
Harriers 193 
Hawk, American rough-legged 204 

Black 204 

Broad- winged 203 

Chicken 201 

Cooper's 199 

Cuban Sparrow 210 

Duck 208 

Ferruginous Rough-leg 205 

Fish 212 

Florida Red-shouldered 201 



Hawk, Great-footed 208 

Harlan's 201 

Harris's 200 

Hen 201 

Killy 210 

Krider's 201 

Marsh 198 

Mexican Black 204 

Pigeon 208, 209 

Red-shouldered 201 

Red-tailed 200 

Richardson's Pigeon 209 

Rough-legged 204 

Sennett's White-tailed 202 

Sharp-shinned 198 

Short-tailed 203 

Snail 198 

Sparrow 210 

Swainson's 202 

Western Red-tail 201 

Zone-tailed 202 
Hawks 193 

Head parts, Location of 14 
Heath Hen 226 
Helinaia swainsonii 77 
Hell Diver 348 
Helminthophila bachmanii 77 

celata 80 

chrysoptera 78 

lawrencei 79 

leucobronchialis 79 

peregrin a 80 

pinus 78 

ruficapilla 79 
Helmitherus vermivorus 77 
Hen, Heath 226 

Marsh 264 

Mud 256, 259, 260 

Prairie 225, 226 
Herodiones 263 
Heron, Black-crowned Night 269 

Great Blue 266 

Great White 265 

Green 269 

Little Blue 268 

Louisiana 268 

Snowy 267 

Ward's 266 

Yellow-crowned Night 270 
Herons 263 
Hesperocichla naevia 54 



INDEX 



405 



High-hole 178 

Himantopus mexicanus 251 
Hirundinidae 104 
Histrionicus histrionicus 291 
Honey Creeper, Bahama 44 
Hummingbird, Buff-bellied 167 

Rieffer's 167 

Ruby-throated 166 
Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis 
327 

Ibididse 272 
Ibis, Glossy 273 

Scarlet 273 

White 273 

White-faced Glossy 274 

Wood 271 
Icteria virens 93 
Icteridae 142 
Icterus audubonii 149 

cucullatus 149 

galbula 148 

spurius 147 
Ictina mississippiensis 197 
Indigo Bird 139 
Ionornis martinica 259 

Jabiru 272 

Jacana, Mexican 227 

Jacana spinosa 227 

Jacanidse 227 

Jack, Whisky 154 

Jaeger, Long-tailed 336 

Parasitic 335 

Pomarine 335 
Jay, Blue 153 

Canada 154 

Florida 153 

Florida Blue 153 

Gray 154 

Green 152 

Pihon 156 
Jays 151 
Joree 136 
Junco 132 

aikeni 132 

Carolina 132 

hyemalis 132 

hyemalis carolinensis 132 

hyemalis shufeldti 132 

Shufeldt's 132 



Junco, Slate-colored 132 
White-winged 132 

Key of birds in hand, General 42 

method of using 39 
Key of birds in the field 355 

method of using 353 
Killdeer 231 
Kingbird 160 

Arkansas 161 

Couch's 161 

Gray 161 
Kingfisher, Belted 179 

Ringed 179 

Texas 180 
Kinglet, Golden-crowned 56 

Ruby-crowned 57 
Kinglets 56 
Kite, Black-shouldered 197 

Everglade 197 

Mississippi 197 

Swallow-tailed 196 

White-tailed 196 
Kites 193 
Kittiwake 329 
Knot 239 
Krieker 241 

Lagopus lagopus 224 

rupestris 225 

Welchi 225 
Lamellirostral swimmers 276 
Lanius borealis 101 

ludovicianus 102 

ludovicianus excubitorides 102 
Laniidse 101 
Lapwing 229 
Lark, Desert Horned 157 

Field 147 

Horned 156 

Meadow 147 

Mexican meadow 147 

Prairie Horned 157 

Shore 157 

Sky 158 

Texan Horned 157 

Western Meadow 147 
Larks 156 
Laridse 321 
Larinse 328 
Larus argentatus 332 



406 



INDEX 



Larus argentatus smithsonianus 331 

atricilla 332 

delawarensis 332 

franklin ii 333 

glaucus 330 

kumlieni 330 

leucopterus 330 

marinus 331 

minutus 328 

Philadelphia 333 
Lawyer 251 
Legs 26 . 

Covering for 27 

Length of 29 

Parts of 27 
Leptotila f ulviventris brachyptera 217 
Leucosticte, Gray-crowned 114 
Leucosticte tephrocotis 114 
Limicolse 227 
Limosa fedoa 244 

hsemastica 244 
Limpkin 260 
Linnet, Redpoll 118 
Logcock 176 
Loggerhead 102 
Longipennes 320 
Long-shanks 251 
Longspur, Black-breasted 122 

Chestnut-collared 122 

Lapland 121 

McCown's 122 

Smith's 122 
Long-tail 291 

Long-winged Swimmers 320 
Loon 342 

Black-throated 343 

Red-throated 343 
Lophodytes cucullatus 305 
Loxia curvirostra minor 116 

leucoptera 117 
Lunda cirrhata 338 

Macrorhamphus griseus 238 

scolopaceus 238 
Macrochires 166 
Magpie, American, 152 
Mallard 297 

Man-o'-War Bird 306, 307 
Map of Eastern U.S. 41 
Marlin, Brown 244 

Rinsr-tailed 244 



Marsh Hen 264 
Martin, Bee 160 

Cuban 105 

Purple 105 

Sand 107 
Maryland Yellow-throat 93 
Meadowlark 147 

Mexican 147 

Western 147 
Measurements of birds 40 
Megalestris skua 334 
Megascops asio 188 

asio rloridanus 188 

asio trichopsis 188 
Melanerpes aurifrons 178 

carolinus 177 

erythrocephalus 176 

formicivorus bairdi 172 

torquatus 177 
Meleagris gallopavo 219 

gallopavo ellioti 220 

gallopavo mexicana 220 

gallopavo osceola 220 
Melopelia leucoptera 217 
Melospiza fasciata 133 

georgiana 134 

lincolnii 134 
Merganser americanus 304 

serrator 305 
Merganser, American 304 

Hooded 305 

Red-breasted 305 
Merginse 304 
Merlin, American, 209 

Richardson's 209 
Merula migratoria 54 
Micropalama himantopus 239 
Micropallas whitneyi 191 
Micropodidae 167 
Migration of birds 35 
Milvulus forficatus 159 
* tyr annus 160 
Mimus polyglpttos 64 
Mniotilta varia 76 
Mniotiltidae 71 
Mocking bird 64 
Mocking birds 63 
Molothrus ater 144 

ater obscurus 145 
Motacillidse 70 
Movement of birds 35 



INDEX 



407 



Mad Hen 256, 260 

Ked-billed 259 
Murre 339 

Briinnich's 340 

Thick-billed 340 
Myadestes towusendii 50 
Mycteria americana 272 
Myiarchus crinitus 161 

mexicauus 162 

Nests 36, 389 
Nighthawk 170 

Florida 171 

Texan 171 

"Western 171 
Noddy 316, 328 
Nomouyx dominicus 296 
Nonpareil 140 
Nostril Appendages to 19 

Forms of 18 

Kinds of 18 

Position of 18 
Nucifraga columbiana 156 
Nnraenius borealis 249 

hudsonicus 249 

longirostris 249 
Nutcracker, Clark's 156 
Nuthatch, Brown-headed 60 

Florida, "White-breasted 59 

Red-breasted 59 

White-breasted 59 
Nuthatches 58 
Nyctala acadica 187 

tengmalmi richardsoni 187 
Nyctea nyctea 189 
Nycticorax nycticorax naevius 269 

violaceus 270 
Nyctidromus albicollis merrilli 170 

Oceanites aceanicus 318 
Oceanodroma leucorhoa 318 
Odontoglossse 275 
Oidemia americana 294 

deglandi 294 

perspicillata 295 
Old-squaw 291 
Old-wife 291 
Olor buccinator 279 

Columbian us 279 
Oriole, Audubon's 149 

Baltimore 148 



Oriole, Hooded 149 

Orchard 147 
Orioles 142 

Ortalis vetula maccalli 219 
Osprey, American 211 
Otocoris alpestris 156 

alpestris arenicola 157 

alpestris giraudi 157 

alpestris praticola 157 
Oven-bird 90 
Owl, Acadian 188 

American Barn 192 

American Hawk 190 

American Long-eared 185 

American Wood 186 

Arctic American Saw-whet 187 

Arctic Horned 189 

Barn 192 

Barred 186 

Burrowing 190 

Cat 189 

Day 190 

Elf 191 

Ferruginous Gnome 191 

Ferruginous Pygmy 191 

Florida, Barred 186 

Florida Burrowing 191 

Florida Screech 188 

Great Gray 186 

Great Horned 188 

Hawk 190 

Hoot 186, 189 

Long-eared 185 

Monkey-faced 192 

Richardson's 187 

Saw-whet 187 

Screech 188 

Short-eared 185 

Snowy 189 

Spectral 187 

Texas Screech 188 

Western Horned 189 

Wood 186 
Oxeye, Meadow 242 

Sand 243 
Oyster-catcher, American 228 

Paludicolse 254 

Pandion haliaetus carolinensis 211 
Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi 200 
Parauque, Merrill's 170 



408 



INDEX 



Paridae 58 

Paroquet, Carolina, 183 
Parrot, Sea 338 
Parrots 183 
Partridge 222, 224 

Massena 223 

Scaled 222 

Spruce 224 
Parus atricapillus 61 

atricristatus 61 

bicolor 61 

carolinensis 62 

hudsonicus 62 
Passer domesticus 120 

moutanus 120 
Passerella iliaca 135 
Passeres 49 
Passerina amoena 139 

ciris 139 

cyanea 139 

versicolor 140 
Pavoncella pugnax 247 
Peabody bird 129 
Pediocaetes phasianellus campestris 

226 
Peep 242, 243 
Peet-weet 248 
Pelecanidae 307 
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 308 

f uscus 308 
Pelican, Brown 308 

White 308 
Perching birds 49 
Perisoreus canadensis 154 
Petrel, Black-capped 317 

Leach's 318 

Stormy 317, 318 

White-bellied 319 

Wilson's 318 
Petrels, 314 

Petrochelidon lunifrons 105 
Peucaea aestivalis 133 

aestivalis bachmanii 132 

cassini 133 
Pewee, Western wood 164 

Wood 163 
Phaethon flavirostris 313 
Phaethontidae 313 
Phalacrocoracidae 309 
Phalacrocorax carbo 309 

dilophus 310 



Phalacrocorax dilophus floridanus 310 

mexicanus 310 
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii 170 
Phalarope, Gray 253 

Northern 253 

Red 252 

Red-necked 253 

Wilson's 253 
Phalaropes 252 
Phalaropodidae 252 
Phalaropus lobatus 253 
Phalaropus tricolor 253 
Phasianidae 219- 
Pheasant 224 

European 220 

Ring-necked 220 
Philohela minor 237 
Phoebe 162 

Black 162 

Say's 162 
Phoenicopteridae 275 
Phosnicopterus ruber 275 
Pica pica hudsonica 152 
Pici 171 
Picidae 171 
Picoides americanus 175 

arcticus 174 
Pigeon, Passenger 215 

Red-billed 215 

Sea 339 

White-crowned 215 

Wild 216 
Pigeons, 214 
Pinicola enucleator 115 
Pintail 302 
Pipilo erythroptbalmus 136 

erythropthalmus alleni 136 

maculatus arcticus 136 
Pipit, American 70 

Sprague's 71 
Piranga erythromelas 108 

ludoviciana 108 

rubra 109 
Pit angus derbianus 161 
Plataleidae 274 
Plectrophenax nivalis 121 
Plegadis autumnalis 273 

guarauna 274 
Plover, American Golden 231 

Belted Piping 232 

Black-bellied 230 



INDEX 



409 



Plover, Bull-head 230 

Field 247 

Golden 231 

Grass 247 

Mountain 233 

Piping 232 

Ring-neck 232 

Ruddy 244 

Semipalmated 231 

Snowy 232 

Upland 247 

Wilson's 233 
Podicipida? 344 
Podilymbus podiceps 348 
Poke 269 

Polioptila cserula 57 
Polyborus cheriway 211 
Poocsetes gramineus 123 

gramineus eontinis 123 
Poor-will 170 
Porzaua Carolina 257 

jamaicensis 258 

noveboracensis 258 
Prairie Chicken 226 
Prairie Hen 225 

Lesser 226 
Primaries 23 

First of the 24 
Procellaria pelagica 317 
Procellariidae 314 
Prognecryptoleuca 105 

subis 105 
Protonotaria citrea 76 
Psittaci 183 
Psittacidae, 183 
Ptarmigan, Rock 225 

Welch's 225 

Willow 224 
Puffin 338 

Tufted 338 
Puffinus auduboni 316 

borealis 316 

major 316 

puffinus 317 

stricklandi 317 
Pygopodes 337 

Pyrocephalus rubineus mexicanus 159 
Pyrrhuloxia sinuata 137 

Quail 222 
Blue 222 



Quawk 270 

Quills 23 

Quiscalus macrourus 150 
major 151 
quiscula 150 
quiscula seneus 150 
quiscula aglseus 150 

Rail, Black 258 

Carolina 258 

Clapper 256 

Florida Clapper 256 

King 255 

Louisiana Clapper 256 

Virginia 256 

Yellow 258 
Rails 254 
Rain Crow 182 
Rallida? 254 
Rallus crepitans 256 

crepitans saturatus 256 

elegans 255 

scottii 256 

virginianus 256 
Raptores 184 
Raven, Northern 154 

White-necked 155 
Rectrices 32 

Recurvirostra americana 250 
Recurvirostridae 250 
Redback 242 
Red-bird, Summer 109 

Winter 137 
Redhead 286 
Redpoll 118 

Greater 118 

Hoary 118 

Holboll's 118 
Redstart. American 96 
Redtail, Western 201 
Redwing, Bahaman 146 

Sonoran 146 
Reedbird 144 
Regulus calendula 57 

satrapa 56 
Rhynchophanes mccownii 122 
Ricebird 144 
Rin^-neck 232 

Pale 232 
Rissa tridactyla 329 
River Ducks 277 



410 



INDEX 



Road-runner 182 
Robin, American 54 

Golden 148 

Ground 136 

Marsh 136 

Oregon 54 
Rostrhamus sociabilis 197 
Rough-legged Hawk 204, 205 
Ruff 247 
Rynchopidse 320 
Rynchops nigra 320 

Saddleback 331 
Sanderling 243 
Sandpiper, Baird's 241 

Bartramian 247 

Buff-breasted 248 

Curlew 242 

Least 242 

Pectoral 240 

Purple 240 

Red-backed 242 

Semipalmated 242 

Solitary 245 

Spotted 248 

Stilt 239 

Western 243 

White-rum ped 241 
Sandpipers 234 

Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied 175 
Sawbill 305 
Saxicola cenanthe 54 
Sayornis nigricans 162 

phoebe 162 

say a 162 
Scardafella inca 218 
Scolecophagus carolinus 149 

cyanocephalus 149 
Scolopacidae 234 
Scolopax rusticola 237 
Scoter, American 294 

Surf 295 

White-winged 294 
Scotiaptex cinerea 186 
Sea Dove 341 
Sea Ducks 277, 284 
Sea Parrot 338 
Sea Pigeon 339 
Sea Swallow 325 
Secondaries 24 
Seed-eater, Sharp's 140 



Seiurus aurocapillus 90 

motacilla 91 

noveboracensis 90 

noveboracensis notabilis 91 
Setophaga ruticilla 96 
Shag 309 
Shearwater, Audubon's 316 

Cory's 316 

Greater 316 

Manx 317 

Sooty 317 
Shearwaters 314 
Shelldrake 305 
Shore Birds 227 
Shoveller 302 
Shrike, Loggerhead 102 

Northern 101 

White-rumped 102 
Sialia arctica 55 

sialis 55 
Sickle-bill 249 
Siskin, Pine 119 
Sitta canadensis 59 

carolinensis 59 

carolinensis atkinsi 59 

pusilla 60 
Skimmer, Black 320 
Skua 334 
Skylark, European 71, 156, 158 

Missouri 71 
Snake-bird 312 
Snipe, English 238 

Grass 241 

Gray 238 

Red-bellied 239 

Red-breasted 238 

Robin 240 

Surf 244 

Teeter 248 

True 234 

Wilson's 237 

Winter 242 
Snowbird, Black 132 

White 121 
Snowtlake 121 
Solitaire, Townsend's 50 
Somateria dresseri 292 

mollissima borealis 292 

spectabilis 293 
Sora 257 
South-southerly 291 



INDEX 



411 



Sparrow, Acadian Sharp-tailed 126 

Bachnian's 132 

Baird's 124 

Black-hooded 128 

Cassin's 133 

Chipping 130 

Clay-colored 131 

Dusky Seaside 127 

English 120 

European House 120 

European Tree 120 

Field 131 

Fox 135 

Golden-crowned 129 

Grasshopper 124 

Harris's 128 

Henslow's 125 

House 120 

Ipswich 123 

Lark 127 

Leconte's 125 

Lincoln's 134 

Nelson's 126 

Pine-woods 133 

Savanna 124 

Scott's Seaside 127 

Seaside 126 

Sharp-tailed 126 

Song 133 

Swamp 134 

Texas 135 

Tree 130 

Vesper 123 

Western Grasshopper 125 . 

Western Savanna 124 

Western Vesper 123 

White-crowned 128 

White-throated 129 

Yellow-winged 125 
Spatula clypeata 302 
Speotyto cunicularia floridana 191 
Speotyto cunicularia hypogsea 190 
Sphyrapicus varius 175 
Spinus pinus 119 

psaltria 119 

tristis 118 
Spiza Americana 141 
Spizella monticola 130 

pallida 131 

pusilla 131 

socialis 130 



Spoonbill, Roseate 275 
Spoonbill Duck 302 
Sporophila morelleti sharpei 140 
Sprigtail 303 
Stake-driver 264 
Starling 151 
Starlings, Meadow 142 
Starncenas cyanocephala 218 
Steganopodes 306 
Stelgidopteryx serripennis 107 
Stercorariidse 331 
Stercorarius longicaudus 336 

parasiticus 335 

pomarinus 335 
Sterna ansethetus 327 

antillarum 326 

dougalli 326 

forsteri 324 

fuliginosa 326 

hirundo 325 

maxima 323 

paradisaea 326 

sandvicensis acuflavida 324 

trudeaui 325 

tschegrava 323 
Sterninse 322 
Stilt, Black-necked 251 
Stilts 250 
Stone-chat 55 
Strigidae 192 
Strix pratincola 192 
Sturnella magna 147 

magna Mexicana 147 

magna neglecta 147 
Sturnidse 151 
Stum us vulgaris 151 
Sula bassana 313 

sula 312 
Sulidae 312 

Surnia ulula caparoch 190 
Swallow, Bank 107 

Barn 106 

Chimney 168 

Cliff 105 

Eave 106 

Rough-winged 107 

Sea 325 

Tree 106 

White-bellied 107 
Swan, Trumpeter 279 

Whistling 279 



412 



INDEX 



Swans 276, 278 
Swift, Chimney 167 

White-throated 168 
Swimmers, Lamellirostral 276 

Long-winged, 320. 

Toothbill276 

Totipalmate 306 

Tube-nosed 314 
Sylvania canadensis 95 

mitrata 94 

pusilla 94 
Sylviidae 56 
Symphemia semipalmata 246 

semipalmata inornata 246 
Syrnium nebulosum 186 

nebulosum alleni 186 

Tachycineta bicolor 106 

Tail, Arrangement of feathers 32 

Feathers of 31 

Shape of 33 

Texture of 32 

Tip of 32 

Use of 31 
Tanager, Louisiana 108 
. Scarlet 108 

Summer 109 
Tanagridre 108 
Tantalus loculator 271 
Tattler, Long-legged 245 

Solitary 246 
Tattlers 234 
Teal, Blue-winged 301 

Cinnamon 301 ' 

European 301 

Green-winged 300 
Telltale, Greater 245 

Lesser 245 
Tern, Arctic 326 

Black 327 

Bridled 327 

Cabot's 324 

Caspian 323 

Common 325 

Forster's 324 

Gull-billed 323 

Least 326 

Marsh 323 

Noddy 328 

Roseate 326 

Royal 323 



Tern, Sandwich 324 

Sooty 326 

Trudeau's 325 

Wilson's 325 
Terns 321, 322 
Tertiaries or tertials 24 
Tetraonidae 221 
Thalassogeron culminatus 320 
Thistle-bird 119 
Thrasaetos harpyia 206 
Thrasher, Brown 6ii 

Curve-billed 64 
Thrasher, Sennett's 66 
Thrush, Alice's 52 

Bicknell's 52 

Brown 66 

Golden-crowned 90 

Gray-cheeked 52 

Grinnell's Water 91 

Hermit 53 

Larger-billed Water 91 

Louisiana Water 91 

Olive-backed 53 

Tawny 52 

Varied 54 

Water 90, 91 

Willow 52 

Wilson's 52 

Wood 51 
Thrushes 50 
Thryothorus bewickii 67 

bewickii bairdi 67 

ludovicianus 66 
Tiltup 248 
Tinker 340 
Tit, Crested 61 
Titlark 70 
Titmouse, Black-crested 61 

Tufted 61 
Toes, Appendages to 30 

Arrangement of 29 

Number of 29 
Toothbilled swimmers 276 

waders 275 
Totanus flavipes 245 

melanoleucus 244 

nebularius 236 

solitarius 245 
Totipalmate Swimmers 306 
Towhee 136 

Arctic 136 



INDEX 



413 



Towhee, White-eyed 136 
Tree-duck, Black-bellied 284 

Fulvous 283 
Tringa alpiua 242 

alpiua pacifica 242 

bairdii 241 

canutus 239 

ferruginea 242 

fuscicollis 241 

maculata 240 

maritima 240 

minutilla 242 
Trochilida? 16(3 
Trochilus eolubris 166 
Troglodytes aedon 68 

aedon aztecus 68 

hiemalis 68 
Trdglodytidae 63 
Trogon ambiguus 180 
Trogou, Coppery-tailed 180 
Trogonidse 180 

Tropic-bird, Yellow-billed 313 
Tryngites subruficollis 248 
Tube-nosed Swimmers 314 
Tubinares 314 
Tucker 178 
Turdidae 50 
Turdus alieire 52 

alicise bickuelli 52 

aonalaschkne pallasii 53 

fuscescens 52 

fuseescens salicicola 52 

mustelinus 51 

ustulatus swainsonii 53 
Turkey, Florida Wild 220 

Mexican 220 

Rio Grande 220 

Water 312 

Wild 219 
Turnstone 228 
Tympanuchus americanus 225 

cupido 226 

pallidicinctus 226 
Tj^rannidre 158 
Tyrannus dominicensis 161 

melancholicus couchii 161 

tyrannus 160 

verticalis 161 

Uria lorn via 340 
troile 339 



Urinator arcticus 343 

imber 342 

lumme 343 
Urinatorida? 341 
Urubitinga anthracina 204 

Vanellus vanellus 229 

Veery 52 

Vireo atricapillus 100 

belli 101 

calidris barbatulus 98 

flavifrons 99 

flavoviridis 98 

gilvus 99 

noveboracensis 100 

olivaceus 98 

philadelphicus 98 

solitarius 99 

solitarius alticola 100 
Vireo, Bell's 101 

Black-capped 100 

Black-whiskered 98 

Blue-headed 99 

Mountain Solitary 100 

Philadelphia 98 

Red-eyed 98 

Solitary 99 

Warbling, 99 

White-eyed 100 

Yellow-green 98 

Yellow-throated 99 
Vireonidse 96 
Voice of Birds 34 
Vulture, Black 213 

Turkey 212 

Wagtail 70 

Water 91 
Warbler, Audubon's 83 

Autumn 85 

Bachman's 77 

Bay-breasted 85 

Black and White. 76 

Black and Yellow 84 

Blackburnian 86 

Black-poll 85 

Black-throated Blue 82 

Black-throated Green 87 

Blue-winged 78 

Blue Yellow-backed 81 

Brewster's 74, 79 



414 



INDEX 



Warbler, Canadian 95 

Cape May 81 

Cerulean 84 

Chestnut-sided 84 

Connecticut 92 

Golden 82 

Golden-cheeked 74, 87 

Golden-headed 76 

Golden-winged 78 

Green Black-capped 95 

Hemlock 86 

Hooded 94 

Kentucky 91 

Kirtland's 87 

Lawrence's 74, 79 

Magnolia 83 

Mourning 92 

Myrtle 83 

Nashville 79 

Orange-crowned 80 

Orange-throated 86 

Palm 88, 89 

Parula 80 

Pine 88 

Prairie 89 

Prothonotary 76 

Red-poll 89 

Sennett's 81 

Summer Yellow 82 

Swainson's 77 

Sycamore 87 

Tennessee 80 

Wilson's 94 

Worm-eating 77 

Yellow 82 

Yellow-palm 89 

Yellow Red-poll 89 

Yellow-rumped 83 

Yellow-throated 86 
Water-Thrush 90 

Grinnell's 91 

Larger-billed 91 

Louisiana 91 
Water Turkey 312 
Water Witch 348 
Waxwing, Bohemian 103 

Cedar 103 

Northern 103 
Webbing of toes 31 
Wheatear 54 
Whip-poor-will 169 



Whisky Jack 154 
Whistler 289 
Widgeon 299 

American 300 
Willet 246 

Western 246 
Wings 22 

Feathers of 22 

Forms of 26 

Parts of 22 

Point of 24 
Woodcock 234 

American 237 

European 237 
Woodpecker, American, Three-toed 175 

Arctic Three-toed 174 

Black-headed 175 

Californian 172 

Downy 173 

Golden-fronted 178 

Golden-winged 178 

Hairy 173 

Ivory-billed 173 

Lewis's 177 

Pigeon 178 

Pileated 176 

Red-bellied 177 

Red-cockaded 174 

Red-headed 176 

Sapsucker 175 

Southern Hairy 173 

Texan 174 
Woodpeckers 171 
Wood Warblers 71 
Wren, Baird's67 

Bewick's (57 

Carolina 66 

House 68 

Long-billed Marsh 69 

Marian's Marsh 70 

Mocking 67 

Short-billed Marsh 69 

Western House 68 

Winter 68 

Worthington's Marsh 70 
Wrens 63 



Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus 145 
Xanthoura luxuosa 152 
Xema sabinii 333 



INDEX 



415 



Yellow-bird 119 

summer 82 
Yellow-breasted Cbat 93 
Yellow-hammer 178, 
Yellow-legs 245 

Greater 244 

Lesser 245 

Summer 245 
Yellow-throat, Florida 93 



Yellow-throat, Maryland 93 
Western 93 

Zenaida zenaida 216 
Zenaidura macrouro 216 
Zonotrichia albicollis 129 

coronata 129 

leucophrys 128 

querula 128 



TYPOGRAPHY BY J. S. CL'SHIXG & CO., NORWOOD, MASS. 



